The Weeping Wall: Mourning a Millennia of Lost Kingdoms in Jerusalem

Every New Year, Jewish people often exchange wishes: 'Next year, in Jerusalem,' with fervent hopes that the savior will lead them back to their homeland, Jerusalem.

The Weeping Wall: Mourning a Millennia of Lost Kingdoms in Jerusalem

For the Jewish people, the Western Wall or the Weeping Wall in Jerusalem is the holiest site in the Holy Land. Every year, millions of believers and tourists come on pilgrimage. They often stand before the wall and pray earnestly. People write their wishes on small pieces of paper and place them in the wall's crevices. Devotees believe that by doing so at this wall, their prayers will reach the ears of God and be answered.

Additionally, visitors here have the opportunity to see hundreds, even thousands, of Jewish worshippers silently praying by the Weeping Wall all day long. It is believed that if one prays continuously for 40 days, they will be granted many miracles by God.

When people mention the Weeping Wall, they often know it is the holiest place in Jerusalem. However, not many understand clearly why it has become the holiest place.

First and foremost, it stands as a testament to the rich and tumultuous history of the Jewish people.

According to the Bible, the Temple of King Solomon was constructed on the summit of Temple Mount, destroyed by the Babylonian army in 586 BCE. During the reign of Herod the Great, leader of ancient Jewish state, the temple was reconstructed with grandeur. In 70 CE, during the Jewish-Roman war, the temple was demolished by the Roman army, leaving only the Western Wall standing as it is today.

In 135 CE, after suppressing the Jewish rebellion, the Roman emperor decreed exile, prohibiting them from visiting Jerusalem for worship. The reason behind this action was that the Jewish people refused to worship the Roman emperor. Things became easier during the reign of Emperor Constantine. Jewish people were granted permission to return to the ancient city.

This is also the reason why, before the restoration of Israel, at the beginning of the new year, Jewish people often wish each other: Next year, in Jerusalem, to express their relentless desire to return to their homeland.

For over a thousand years, Jerusalem has been ruled under Islamic laws, and Arabs often use the wall as a dumping ground for garbage. They do this to humiliate the Jews who come to pray at the Wall. This somewhat reflects the sorrow of the Jewish people and their lament for a thousand years of exile, for the calamities, and misfortunes of the nation, making it even more painful. Alongside this, they continue to pray with the belief that one day a savior will come to lead the Jewish people back to their homeland, Jerusalem.

In 1948, when the state of Israel was established, Jews and Arabs engaged in a fierce battle. Although the victory belonged to the Jews, they could not obtain the Old City, especially the extremely valuable site for them, the Western Wall. During the 6-day war in 1967, Israel emerged victorious and regained control of the entire Jerusalem. Its military flattened the surrounding areas and created a large square with a capacity of nearly half a million people.

In addition to the Weeping Wall, tourists visiting the Old City of Jerusalem often come to explore historical landmarks such as the path of Jesus, the Mount of Olives, the archaeological site of King David's city... Despite ongoing conflicts with neighboring countries in the border region, Israel still welcomes approximately 3 million tourists each year to visit the religious landmarks that have existed for centuries.

Source: Anh Minh/Vnexpress

***

Reference: Mytour Travel Guide