9
votes
Accepted
Facing the wrong direction during Amidah
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim סימן צד - צריך לכון נגד ארץ ישראל, ודין הרוכב או יושב בספינה
If you're facing the wrong way, then turn your head towards the correct direction.
ב אִם מִתְפַּלֵּל לְרוּחַ ...
- 42k
9
votes
40 consecutive days of prayer at the Western Wall
According to Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (quoted here), there is no basis at all in Judaism for this practice ("אין בזה שום עניין"). He says every prayer at the Kotel is accepted.
- 95.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Can a non Jew pray at the temple mount western wall?
The short answer is yes, non-Jews may enter the Western wall plaza and pray because it is not part of the temple mount sacred area. The restrictions according to halacha involve areas of the temple ...
- 41.9k
8
votes
Writing on the stones of the Western Wall
According to this article (and this one), until not too long ago there was a practice of writing one’s name directly on the wall. This is where the modern practice of writing a note comes.
The first ...
- 260
7
votes
Accepted
Status of stones that fell out of the Kotel
This article quotes Rav Yitzchak Herzog (Heichal Yitzchak OC 18). I do not have access to this source to confirm the accuracy of the following discussion, so take this with a grain of salt until it ...
- 33.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Is it forbidden to have a wedding by the koisel (western wall)?
Like others, I couldn't think of a single halachic reason to forbid weddings. I know I've seen dozens of Bar Mitzvahs over the years there, but never a wedding. (On Monday and Thursday around mid ...
- 6,878
6
votes
Accepted
Is there gender separation for tourists who aren't praying at the Kotel (Western Wall)?
The upper Kotel plaza is not separated by gender, and couples can stay together there; whether they choose to pray there, or not.
However the lower Kotel plaza (closer to the Wall), operates like a ...
- 4,119
5
votes
Accepted
Would an avel who visits the Kotel need to do an extra tearing?
Wearing torn clothing isn't the command. A tear for one event doesn't help at all for another later event. Even if another relative passes away during Shiva he would need to tear again (YD 340:21-23; ...
- 95.3k
5
votes
Accepted
What is a permissible and effective way to keep one's belongings while praying amidah at the kotel?
When I went to the kotel with a bag, I usually put it near my legs or on a chair in front of me. I found this to be the best way to keep in touch with my stuff and to concentrate on the amidah.
5
votes
Accepted
Backing out of the Western Wall (Kosel)
This PDF file attributed to the teachings of R' Shlomo Aviner lists a couple of gedolim who practiced this, but doesn't give sources:
Q: Is it permissible to turn one's back to the Kotel?
A: It is ...
- 11.8k
5
votes
40 consecutive days of prayer at the Western Wall
Note: 40 days of prayer at the wall is considered a "Segulah" and therefore relies more on tradition than the strict rationalist approach that the halachic process has.
An Article written by Rabbi ...
- 3,767
5
votes
What types of things should a person put on a note that is put into the Kotel?
Aish HaTorah says
It is a centuries-old tradition to place a note with a prayer or
request in the Western Wall.
- 12.5k
4
votes
What is the history of writing on the Kotel?
According to the website IsraelDailyPicture, (which presents historical photos of Israel with explanations) those are memorial notices. Two such pictures can be seen here, and the text (names in the ...
- 910
4
votes
Keria at the Wailing Wall
There are quite a few ways in which people avoid tearing, though I guess most don't do it simply because they are unaware of the Halacha.
The Kotel is not the best place to tear - one should try and ...
- 6,097
3
votes
Custom of placing notes at the Kosel
The Ohr HaChaim Quoted by Rav Palagi, and an even earlier source for this episode with the Ohr HaChaim. Both are quoted in sefer Hilchisa M'Dorayse .
- 6,028
3
votes
The Western wall (Kotel Hamaravi) forever
Several Midrashim address the "Western Wall" though it's not entirely clear what those midrashim are referring to. This includes the Bamidbar Rabba 11:2 as well as Shir Hashirim Rabba 2:9 (sometimes ...
- 21.4k
3
votes
prayers ascending from Western Wall
I found in this sicho of Rav Yehudah Kreuzer
וכך כתב רבי יעקב עמדין זצ"ל: דע והבן, אף על פי ששכינה בכל מקום, מכל
מקום אין התפילה עולה בחוץ לארץ במסילה אחת דרך ישרה, כי צריך לשולחה
לארץ ישראל,...
- 45.8k
3
votes
Berachot for visiting Israel?
As mentioned in the comments above the bracha of "Barukh Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melekh Haolam Sheasa et Hayam Hagadol" when seeing the ocean for the first time in 30 days is relevant.
In addition highly ...
- 43.5k
3
votes
Accepted
Should we pray in the Kotel?
Firstly the Kotel wasn't part of the ruins of the Beit HaMikdash, according to popular opinion.
It's a retainer wall holding up the Temple Mount platform. The Bet HaMikdash ruins morphed into ...
- 42k
2
votes
Not approaching the Western Wall
There is such an idea from the Shu"t Bais Ridvaz siman 38 where he holds that the western wall is part of the Azarah,like the shitta of the Radvaz.
The Chachmas Adam Shaarei Tzedek Mishpatei Ha'...
- 39.8k
2
votes
prayers ascending from Western Wall
There is no source in the Talmud for the Western Wall being the place from where prayers "ascend". (Tractate Brachot 30a says we face toward the kodesh hakadashim when praying, traditionally and ...
- 17.2k
2
votes
If visiting the kosel before a joyous event, does one tear kriyah?
I think the answer is written in an actual verse:
Psalms 137, 5-6
אם-אשכחך ירושלים-- תשכח ימיני.
תדבק-לשוני, לחיכי-- אם-לא אזכרכי:
אם-לא אעלה, את-ירושלים-- על, ראש שמחתי
137:5 If I ...
- 640
1
vote
Davening at the Kotel
Laolam lo zaza shechina mekotel hamaaravi! The Divine presence never left the Western wall! (See Midrash Tanhuma Exodus 10, Song of Songs 2:22, Exodus Raba 2:2, Zohar II:5b)
- 1,199
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vote
40 days at the Kotel
As the question you linked to states, this is a recent custom and essentially it depends on why you are doing 40 days at the Kotel.
If you made a vow, then it would depend on what you had in mind. If ...
- 42k
1
vote
If visiting the kosel before a joyous event, does one tear kriyah?
I think that you've answered your own question based on your parenthetical remarks.
Combining mourning and joy at the same event or day is quite common, actually. In Israel, for example, almost ...
- 68.9k
1
vote
Sleeping at the Kotel on Tisha B'av
This is based on my own surmisal:
Pirkei Avot 5 mishna 8:
Ten miracles were performed for our fathers in the Temple ...
No man said to his fellow, "There is no room for me to lodge in
...
- 68.9k
1
vote
Keria at the Wailing Wall
There are opinions that one does not need to tear kria now that Jerusalem is in our hands. For instance, R Shlomo Aviner (in his book Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah Ha-Cohain Kook, p. 158) writes
The ...
- 43.5k
1
vote
Which way to face when davening at the Kotel
This may not be completely unfounded:
Talmud Yerushalmi Masechet Brachot daf 35.
There, it says that anyone praying inside Jerusalem should face Har HaBayit. Seeing as how being in front of the ...
- 1,860
1
vote
Which way to face when davening at the Kotel
My Rebbe the Cheif Rabbi of the old city Rav Avigdor Nevenzahl Shlit"a told me that it is a bizayon to the kosel to daven towards the left.
Another reason why one would not need to face left is ...
- 15.1k
1
vote
Accepted
Which way to face when davening at the Kotel
The second rosh yeshiva in my yeshiva, R' Dovid Stefansky, told me he had asked this question to his rosh yeshiva, Rav Shach, while pointing out that the correct direction would seem to be diagonally ...
- 6,434
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