Western Wall / Wailing Wall (english)
Kotel (hebrew)
Al-Buraq Wall (arabic)
Location : Jerusalem, Israel
Part of : Temple Mount
Length : 488 m (exposed section : 57 m)
Height : 32 m (exposed section : 19 m)
Builder : Herod the Great
Founded : 19 BC
Material : Limestone
Herod the Great, King of Israel under the Romans(37BC-4BC), enlarged and rebuilt the second temple, and made it a magnificent temple. After the total destruction of the temple in 70 AD, following the Jewish revolt against the Romans, only a few layers of the grand temple were left, and the Jews were not allowed to rebeuild their temple.
The worship at this site of the western wall started after the destruction. For 2,000 years the Jews came to the site and prayed for the rebuilt of Jerusalem and the Jewish Nation, since the fate of both coincided at the same time. For many times during the history the Jews were forbidden to approach the site, or were harassed while doing so, or had to bribe to get into the site.
In 1967, after the 6 day war, the holy site returned back again to Jewish control, and was opened to the public. The area before the western wall was razed down to allow the multitude of worshippers to assemble in the site.
*texts sources : wikipedia, websites below
http://www.biblewalks.com/sites/WesternWall.html
http://www.haeunchurch.com/board_ljxq48/4228
Sukkot (begins at sunset on 4th Oct. ~ lasts through the evening on 11th Otc.)
Sukkot(booths or tabernacles)
Sukkot is a biblical Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month on the Jewish calendar(varies from late September to late October on the Gregorian calendar). During the existence of the Jerusalem Temple, it was one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals - Passover(Pesach), Weeks or Pentecost(Shavuot), Sukkot - on which the Israelites were commanded to perform a pilgrimage to the Temple.
It is commonly translated as 'Feast of Tabernacles', literally 'Feast of Booths'.
The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, "booth" or "tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with plant material such as overgrowth or palm leaves. A sukkah is the name of the temporary dwelling in which farmers would live during harvesting, a fact connecting to the agricultural significance of the holiday stressed by the Book of Exodus. As stated in Leviticus, it is also intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the sukkah and many people sleep there as well.
Jewish ritual washing hands
Pass the cup(typically two handled cup)to the left hand and pour three times over the right hand. Repeat by pouring on the left hand. (www.chabad.org)
Two handled cup, in the public restroom of the Western Wall.
Four Species
On each day of the holiday it is mandatory to perform a waving ceremony with the Four Species.
1. etrog : the fruit of a citron tree
2. hadass : boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree
3. lulav : a ripe, green, closed frond from a date palm tree
4. aravah : branches with leaves from the willow tree
Touching the Mezuzah, as a way of showing respect to God
It comprises a piece of parchment contained in a decorative case and inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah. According to halakha(Jewish religious law), the Mezuzah should be place on the right side of the door or doorpost, in the upper third of the doorpost.
The waving of the four plants is a 'mitzvah'(commandment) prescribed by the Torah, and contains symbolic allusions to a Jew's service of God.
Simchat Torah
Torah Scroll
Simchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cyccle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.
It is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret(Eighth Day of Assembly), which follows immediately after the seven-day festival of Sukkot.
The main celebrations of Simchat Torah take place in the synagogue during evening and morning services. This is the only time of year on which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read at night. On each occasion, when the ark is opened, the worshippers leave thier seats to dance and sing with the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that can last for several hours.
Torah ark
Torah Scrolls taken out of the ark
Hurva synagogue
*texts sources : wikipedia
*more infos about Sukkot or Jewish traditions :
http://www.haeunchurch.com/board_ljxq48/68958
http://www.chabad.org
The Jerusalem March
Jerusalem March is an annual march in Jerusalem that takes place during the week-long festival of Sukkot since 1955. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, a pro-Israel Evangelical christian group, holds its annual conference on Sukkot and conference participants, many in national costumes, take part in the march. From 2003 on, thousands of Christians pilgrims have joined in the Jerusalem March.
*more infos about the Jerusalem March :
https://feast.icej.org/jerusalem-march