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Western Wall

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud party chairman, visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, (L), Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, right, shares a drink in a Tel Aviv bar ahead of the national election, October 26, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90, Gaid Eisenkot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
October 27, 2026, 10:35 am
From the Western Wall to Tel Aviv bars, candidates give last push ahead of election
Netanyahu claims to be an honorary Ethiopian, visits Jerusalem holy site; Eisenkot and Bennett raise a glass with voters in Tel Aviv; Ben Gvir ascends Temple Mount; Arab, ultra-Orthodox parties urge voter turnout
By Stuart Winer
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men pray during the fast day of Tisha B’Av at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, July 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
July 23, 2026, 4:22 pm
At the Western Wall on Tisha B’Av, prayers for redemption mingle with hopes for peace
Worshipers say the annual fast, which commemorates the destruction of the holy temples, is shaped by visions of national unity and an end to years of conflict
By Zev Stub
A photo of the Western Wall from the 1920s (AO Freedman)
June 5, 2026, 1:27 am
Tower of David Museum wants your old Western Wall photos
Request for people to search for images comes as Jerusalem institution prepares 2027 exhibit for 60th anniversary of city’s reunification following 1967 Six Day War
By Jessica Steinberg
Yizhar Hess, a World Zionist Organization vice chairman and senior representative of the Masorti/Conservative Judaism (left), discusses with an ultra-Orthodox worshipper at the Western Wall in an undated picture. (Courtesy)
May 12, 2026, 2:23 am
Divisive bill barring non-Orthodox practices at Western Wall back on Knesset agenda
Legislation would give chief rabbis ultimate authority at holiest site for Jewish prayer, could see non-Orthodox worship branded as ‘desecration,’ carrying 7-year jail term
By Rossella Tercatin
Muslim worshipers pray outside the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount during Friday noon prayers, following 40 days of closure by the Israeli authorities amid the Iran war, in Jerusalem's Old City on April 10, 2026. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
April 10, 2026, 9:30 pm
Over 100,000 Muslim worshipers at Al-Aqsa in first Friday prayers after Jerusalem holy sites reopen
The mosque on the Temple Mount had been largely closed to the public, along with other Muslim, Christian and Jewish holy sites, due to safety restrictions amid Iran missile fire
By AFP and ToI Staff
Israelis attending anti-war protest take shelter in Tel Aviv's Habima parking lot as alert for Iranian missile sounds on April 4, 2026 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
April 6, 2026, 2:11 pm
Daily Briefing April 6: Court, MKs battle over wartime restrictions on protests vs. prayers
Political correspondent Sam Sokol discusses backlash to High Court’s order to allow an anti-war rally, and unexpected support for ultra-Orthodox educational funds during 2026 budget vote
By Jessica Steinberg and Sam Sokol
A view of the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem's Old City, which is empty due to attendance restrictions amid the ongoing Iran war, April 5, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 6, 2026, 1:26 am
High Court raises wartime limit on Western Wall, Temple Mount access from 50 to 100
Following petitions filed by religious leaders angry that the court allowed hundreds at a protest, court says it’s ‘balancing security’ with the ‘right to freedom of religion and worship’
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
Jewish worshippers take part in the traditional Priestly Blessing during the Passover holiday in an indoor section along the Western Wall in Jerusalem, after prayers were limited to 50 participants due to the ongoing war, April 5, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 5, 2026, 2:43 pm
Limited Passover and Easter ceremonies held at Jerusalem holy sites amid war restrictions
Old City largely desolate as just a handful of clergy allowed to perform Passover priestly blessing at the Western Wall and Easter Sunday services at Church of Holy Sepulchre
By Rossella Tercatin, ToI Staff and Agencies
Israelis celebrate the Passover Seder in an underground central Israel parking lot used as a public shelter during the ongoing war with Iran and Hezbollah, April 1, 2026. (Flash90)
April 1, 2026, 6:47 pm
Iran, Hezbollah launch attacks as Israelis host Passover Seders, sending millions to shelters
Four lightly hurt, including two babies, by bomblet from Iranian cluster warhead that struck Bnei Bnei overnight as Israel comes under attack before and during holiday’s first night
By Emanuel Fabian, Rossella Tercatin and ToI Staff
A man sits beside a locked door of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and shuttered shops in Jerusalem’s Old City, which remains off limits to visitors amid the war with Iran, on March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
March 29, 2026, 3:02 pm
Under shadow of war with Iran, Jerusalem heads into subdued Passover and Easter
Celebrations canceled and shops shuttered after missile fragments fell in Old City; Home Front Command limits religious gatherings to 50 people
By Melanie Lidman
Conservative/Masorti Movement leaders praying at the egalitarian plaza at the Western Wall in October 2025. (Courtesy MERCAZ Olami)
March 16, 2026, 5:17 pm
Knesset committee advances bill expanding Orthodox control over Western Wall Plaza
Controversial legislation referred to Knesset Constitution Committee; Women of the Wall say Israel ‘spitting’ in the face of Diaspora Jewry
By Sam Sokol
A boy reads from the Torah as part of his bar mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall's egalitarian section in Jerusalem on November 17, 2022. (Egalitarian section/Facebook)
February 26, 2026, 11:09 pm
Progressive Jews sound alarm over bill cementing Orthodox control of Western Wall
Diaspora leaders warn criminalizing non-Orthodox prayer at the Wall will exclude many from Judaism’s holiest site, violate World Zionist Organization resolutions
By Zev Stub
A Valar Atomics microreactor is seen on a C-17 aircraft, without nuclear fuel, at March Air Reserve Base, California, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Daly)
February 26, 2026, 3:57 pm
Daily Briefing Feb. 26 – Nuke talks resume even as US F-22s crowd Israeli skies
Editor David Horovitz on Bollywood-level antics at the Knesset during PM Modi’s visit and a new bill to tamp down egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and David Horovitz
Conservative rabbis pray at the Ezrat Yisrael egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, December 12, 2024. (Courtesy/ File)
February 25, 2026, 4:28 pm
MKs approve preliminary bill cementing Orthodox control over entire Western Wall
Haredim praise bill giving Chief Rabbinate authority over prayer at Old City site, calling it victory over Reform Movement; progressives say Israel turning back on non-Orthodox, Diaspora
By Sam Sokol
Conservative rabbis pray at the Ezrat Yisrael egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, December 12, 2024. (Courtesy/ File)
February 22, 2026, 8:01 pm
Netanyahu nixes ministerial vote on bill cementing Orthodox control of Western Wall
Justice minister calls on MKs to vote in favor, coalition whip receives PM’s permission to give MKs freedom to vote freely on the controversial legislation
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
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