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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 647

Western Wall

The Western Wall Plaza stood completely empty on June 17, 2025, as the holy site was closed to worshipers due to the war with Iran. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
June 19, 2025, 6:01 am
Shuttered Old City, lively Mahane Yehuda market share faith God shields the holy city from Iran
While the Western Wall and Temple Mount are closed off along with the rest of the ancient quarters for security reasons, the ‘shuk’ in the new city remains open with music blaring
By Rossella Tercatin
New US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee holds up a note he says was given him by US President Donald Trump to be place in the crevices of the Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, April 18, 2025. (Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP)
April 18, 2025, 4:10 pm
New US envoy puts note with prayer from Trump in Western Wall: ‘For peace in Israel’
Mike Huckabee says US president told him first thing he should do as ambassador is to place message in 2,000-year-old holy site, offers own prayer for the return of the hostages
By ToI Staff and AFP
Former hostage Eliya Cohen recites the Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall on April 15, 2025. (Western Wall Foundation)
April 15, 2025, 8:30 pm
Tens of thousands flock to Western Wall as ex-hostage Eliya Cohen says priestly blessing
During the ceremony, the young man holds up posters for two captives still in the Strip, Segev Kalfon and Alon Ohel, as the massive crowd recites the prayer for the hostages
By Rossella Tercatin
Staff from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation remove notes and messages from the Western Wall ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover on April 2, 2025. (Western Wall Heritage Foundation)
April 2, 2025, 4:55 pm
Western Wall cleared of thousands of visitors’ pleas ahead of Passover
According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, notes include messages sent through its website by people from enemy countries, such as Iran and Yemen
By Rossella Tercatin
Jewish worshipers pray at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem's Old City, during the priestly blessing of the Sukkot festival, October 20, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 20, 2024, 2:31 pm
Relatives of hostages among thousands gathered at Western Wall for priestly blessing
Ceremony includes special prayers for those held captive in Gaza and for the welfare of Israel’s soldiers
By ToI Staff
Wounded Jewish boys in Hebron, August 1929 (Courtesy of The Hebron Archives)
October 9, 2024, 4:29 am
New book draws line from 1929 Hebron Massacre to horrific events of October 7
In ‘Ghosts of a Holy War,’ Yardena Schwartz investigates the lies and denials that have fueled the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for a century, pushing a solution further away
By Renee Ghert-Zand
Jewish men pray as they gather for the ritual of Tisha B'Av at the Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, on August 12, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 13, 2024, 10:09 am
Marking poignant Tisha B’Av, Israelis draw parallels to October 7 attacks
Crowds attend prayers at Western Wall, while thousands more gather at Hostages Square to call for captives’ release
By ToI Staff
The iconic Rubinger photo of three paratroopers standing at the recaptured Western Wall in June 1967. From left: Tzion Karasenti, Yitzhak Yifat and Chaim Oshri (David Rubinger/GPO)
July 6, 2024, 7:20 pm
Yitzhak Yifat, paratrooper at center of iconic Six Day War photo, dies at 81
Immortalized at newly captured Western Wall, Yifat and fellow soldiers Zion Karasenti and Haim Oshri became powerful symbol of one of most significant moments in Israeli history
By ToI Staff
Jewish worshipers attend the priestly blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, during the holiday of Passover, April 25, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 25, 2024, 4:54 pm
Thousands at Western Wall for priestly blessing, with prayers for hostages’ return
Some 30,000 worshipers attend semi-annual ceremony as organizers add special text for the release of those in Hamas captivity
By Charlie Summers
Children of fallen IDF soldiers celebrate their bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in a collective celebration on April 4, 2024. (Kobi Koenkas/IDF Widows & Orphans Organization).
April 5, 2024, 3:16 am
Through pain of loss, IDF orphans celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs at Western Wall
President Isaac Herzog meets with children of fallen IDF soldiers and security forces at Jerusalem’s Museum of Tolerance, where he commends their heroism
By Maya Zanger-Nadis
Jews attend a prayer for the return of the Israeli hostages at the Western Wall on March 21, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 22, 2024, 2:21 pm
Daily Briefing Mar 22: Day 168 – Kotel prayer for hostages; US rabbi reports support is hard
Jewish world reporter Canaan Lidor discusses comments by Reform Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Knesset rabbinical bill and evacuees’ struggles to return home
By ToI Staff
Jews attend a prayer for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, March 21, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
March 22, 2024, 11:59 am
Praying for hostages and soldiers, mass recitation of Shema held at Western Wall
Thousands worldwide join live Fast of Esther broadcast, together with hundreds at the Wall, to pray for hostages’ return; relatives, Gaza-envelope residents, Sara Netanyahu attend
By Jessica Steinberg and ToI Staff
The iconic Rubinger photo of three paratroopers standing at the recaptured Western Wall in June 1967. From left: Tzion Karasenti, Yitzhak Yifat and Chaim Oshri (David Rubinger/GPO)
February 11, 2024, 7:57 pm
Solomonic ruling: 2 paratroopers can claim single spot in iconic Six Day War image
The leftmost soldier in the 1967 photo of paratroopers at the Western Wall has been identified as both Zion Karasenti and Abraham Bornstein; a Tel Aviv court upholds both claims
By Jeremy Sharon
Jews pray for the army's success in the war against Hamas and the return of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on January 10, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 11, 2024, 4:52 pm
‘Impoverished, broken and in pain’: Thousands at Western Wall mass prayer for hostages
With 100 days of captivity fast approaching for abductees, crowds seek their salvation through God
By Canaan Lidor
File: Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, center, inspects a giant Hanukkah menorah, set up by the Jewish Chabad Educational Center ahead of the Jewish Hanukkah holiday, in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany, December 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
December 11, 2023, 10:24 am
Holocaust survivors to hold virtual Hanukkah ceremony amid antisemitism fears
Claims Conference to host online menorah lighting with Billy Crystal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Alexander to speak, Barry Manilow to perform
By Agencies
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