The Kosel and Har HaBayis

In 1967 (55 years ago as of this printing), for the first time in nearly two millennium, the Temple mount
came under Jewish control.  There were open miracles in the battle, where enemy forces threatened to
annihilate Eretz Yisroel and its people.  A bomb landed on the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. 
Miraculously it did not detonate. And of course, we got the Kosel back – a place we could not even visit
for nineteen years – since the Jordanians captured it in 1948.
The Temple Mount is the holiest place on earth where Hashem’s Divine Presence was and is still most
concentrated.  The Kosel is the last remaining wall that surrounds Har HaBayis, the Temple mount and is
called the “Wailing Wall” because Jews have gathered before it to cry over the loss of the Temple, the
Beis HaMikdash.   The day that we got back the Kosel and the eastern half of Jerusalem is known as
“Yom Yerushalayim” and is commemorated on the 28th of Iyar each year.  It might therefore be
beneficial for us to review some aspects and halachos of the Kosel and how we must relate to it now in
its current state.

SAVES THE WORLD
Firstly, let us note the significance of the Bais HaMikdash and its ever relevant enormity in our own
times as well.  There is a verse in Ovadiah (1:17) that states, “And on the Mountain of Zion shall be the
salvation.”  The Emek HaMelech (14:134) writes that this verse teaches us that the prayers of the
righteous and great people of Yerushalayim at the Western Wall are what saves the world.  He writes
that their tears and supplications keep the world intact, and were it not for their prayers at this most
holy of places the world would be destroyed.

PRESENCE OF SHECHINA
The Midrash tells us (Shmos Rabbah 2:2) that the Shechina, the Divine Presence, has not budged from
the Western Wall.  The presence of the Shechina, according to the Alshich (VaYikra 25:29), is the surety
the promise, that Hashem will ultimately redeem us.

SIGN OF HOPE 
These two sources indicate to us a positive, hopeful aspect of the Makom HaMikdash, in our times.  It is
a place of enormous Kedusha – holiness, and one which brings current salvation to the world now, and
the hope and promise of our ultimate future redemption.  This is remarkably inspiring and uplifting.

SADNESS AND PAIN
Yet at the same time, the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash evokes deep feelings of sadness and pain. 
We rip Kriyah when we see it. It is not just a regular Kriyah but the more serious one that occurs near
the heart itself.  When we rip Kriyah, the ripping should never be repaired completely.
The destruction should move us.  Indeed, the Mishna Brurah (561:4) writes that on the day that a
person first sees Yerushalayim in its state of disrepair it is proper and appropriate for that person to
refrain from eating meat and drinking wine.

OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN SANCTITY

The fact that we do have sovereignty over the Temple Mount and its regions obligates us in maintaining
its sanctity.  Technically, gentiles should not be allowed to enter the inner section of the Temple Mount
– from the “Chayil” and further in (See Mishna Keilim 1:8 and Tzitz Eliezer 10:1:10 for the contemporary
application).  Indeed, in 1871, Charles Clermont Ganneau, a French archaeologist and diplomat, found a
stone with an inscription in Greek which forbade entry to all gentiles past that point.   Thus a travel
agent should not promote a tour to Israel for gentiles who will ascend to the inner section of the Temple
Mount.  Indeed, it is even forbidden for a videography editor  to request a gentile to film sections of the
Temple Mount because he will stay there longer on account of the request.

WHEN PRAYING THERE
It is important to note that when dealing with the Bais HaMikdash and davening at the Kosel ,our focus
must  on HaKadosh Boruch Hu and not on the physical aspect of the Kosel itself.  Indeed, a fascinating
point, recently confirmed by Rav Chaim Kanievsky, is that when davening at the Kosel one should not
face completely toward the Kosel.  Rather, one should face left toward the Kodash HaKadoshim.
Another question arises as to whether there exists a Mitzvah to go to Eretz Yisroel during the Shalosh
Regalim  even in its current state of destruction.  The Rambam in Hilchos Chagiga (1:1) states that there
is no Mitzvah because the obligation is only to bring a Korban Chagigah and Olah and to appear in the
Temple.   The opinion of the Tashbatz (Responsa III # 201), however, at least according to the way most
achronim understand him, is that there is indeed a Mitzvah of Aliyah l’regel, even nowadays when there
is no extant Beis HaMikdash.  This is also the view of the Sdei Chemed, the Chasam Sopher (Yevamos
44a), and the Aruch LaNer.  The RaN in Taanis (first Mishna) also writes this.
Rav Elyashiv zatzal was careful to observe this Mitzvah and go to the Kosel every Yom Tov.  When he got
older and could no longer make the walk he would do so during the latter days of the Yom Tov – the 7
days of Tashlumim.  [Once, my brother-in-law accompanied him on the way back from the Kosel on Yom
Tov and had asked him where one puts up a Zecher l’Churban in a house if there is no place to put it
opposite the door.  He responded that one should place it above the door in such an instance.]The fact that we currently have access to the Kosel, thus has remarkable relevance, as we can now fulfill
this Mitzvah of the Tashbatz,
The ideal method of performing the Mitzvah, however, is on the first day of the Yom Tov as Rav Elyashiv
had observed it.  This can be seen from the words of the Rambam  in Chagiga 1:1. So, whoever is in
Yerushalayim and can make the walk to the Kosel on the first day of the Yom Tov should definitely do
so.  If one can afford to go to Eretz Yisroel for Yom Tov from Chutz LaAretz, then one should do so as
well.  Affording it, however, is quite another story.