Western Wall Cleanup Reveals Prayers From Iran and US Soldiers Amid War

The foundation said many of those messages contained requests for peace, reconciliation and improved relations among nations.

By Shula Rosen

Tens of thousands of prayer notes were cleared Sunday from the crevices of Jerusalem’s Western Wall as part of the site’s regular preparation ahead of Passover, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation told Ynet.

Annual clearing of the crevices of the Western Wall usually takes place closer to the Passover holiday, but since the area is clear of worshippers during Operation Roaring Lion, The Western Wall Foundation undertook the project earlier this year.

The messages, which had accumulated in the stones over the previous six months, were gathered and placed into sacks before being transferred for religious burial in accordance with Jewish tradition, a process known as geniza.

The removal was conducted under the supervision of Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, together with Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, director-general of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

According to the foundation, the notes collected this year included submissions sent through its website by individuals in a number of countries considered hostile to Israel or whose relations with the country are complicated.

Among those listed were Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan and Egypt.

The foundation said many of those messages contained requests for peace, reconciliation and improved relations among nations.

In addition to prayers left physically at the wall by visitors and worshippers, the foundation noted that hundreds of messages are transmitted daily through its website by people who cannot travel to Jerusalem but wish to place a prayer at the site.

During the ceremony marking the removal of the notes, Rabinowitz and Eliav recited prayers for the safety of Israeli security forces and for the success of the campaign against Israel’s enemies led by the Iranian regime.

They also prayed for the protection of US soldiers standing alongside Israel while confronting threats in the region.

“In these days, when the people of Israel are facing challenges and seeking divine mercy, we see how thousands of prayers continue to arrive at the stones of the Western Wall from across Israel and around the world,” the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said in a statement.

“Alongside prayers for the peace of the State of Israel, the safety of soldiers and the salvation of the entire nation, prayers are also arriving from many places — even from citizens of hostile countries asking for peace between peoples and nations,” the statement continued.

“We also pray for the safety of U.S. soldiers standing alongside the State of Israel in confronting these threats, and we hope for days of peace, security and brotherhood among all peoples.”