Thousands of Prayer Notes from 140 Countries Cleared from Western Wall

Tens of thousands of prayer notes, placed between the stones of the Western Wall over the past six months from 140 countries, were removed on Sunday ahead of the High Holy Days. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that among the notes submitted via their website, there was a notable increase in requests for peace and reconciliation from individuals residing in countries hostile to Israel, including Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, and Kazakhstan. Notes also arrived from nations such as India, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, Jamaica, Kenya, and Nigeria.

The traditional removal process was led by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, who offered a prayer for the unity of the Jewish people. The notes were collected in special bags using gloves and disposable wooden tools, adhering to Halachic guidelines for preserving the sanctity and privacy of the site. They will be buried along with worn-out holy texts in a genizah, a repository for sacred writings.

In June, Sudan's then-Foreign Minister, Dr. James Pitia Morgan, visited the Western Wall. He stated that despite being raised Christian, he learned from the Bible about the Jewish people's history, suffering, and triumphs, and about God's eternal promise to them. He emphasized that the Jewish people are blessed and chosen, and Jerusalem is God's house, highlighting their shared history from the Exodus to the present as a reminder of the Jewish people's endurance and eventual victory.

At the time of his visit, the Rabbi and the Foreign Minister recited a chapter of Psalms and a special prayer for peace for nations and peoples. The Foreign Minister then placed a note between the Western Wall stones. He concluded his visit by writing in the guest book, expressing solidarity from South Sudan with the Jewish people and Israel, and pledging prayers for peace, love, and prosperity for the Holy Land.