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 ...
- 42.8k
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 ...
- 42.9k
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 ...
- 479
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 ...
- 34.1k
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 ...
- 4,892
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; ...
- 97.4k
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
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.
- 13.8k
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 ...
- 12k
3
votes
If Shechina never left the kotel hamaravi can one male Jew say kaddish alone standing in front of the kotel?
As far as I am concerned it is because Kaddish is a "davar bekdusha"
see Orach Chaim 55:
אוֹמְרִים קַדִּישׁ וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים אוֹתוֹ בְּפָחוֹת מִי׳ זְכָרִים בְּנֵי חוֹרִין גְּדוֹלִים
We say ...
- 949
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 .
- 6,123
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 ...
- 48.1k
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 ...
- 42.8k
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 ...
- 651
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)
- 1,703
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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 ...
- 42.8k
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 ...
- 70k
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 ...
- 48.1k
1
vote
Are there any halachic authorities which relate to the non-mechitza, pre-1967 prayers which were held at the Kotel?
The Jews of Ottoman Palestine were treated as subhumans under Dhimmitude. They had zero power to implement anything, even a temporary/portable screen. When the British assumed power in December of ...
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