Archaeologists Inspect Kosel Stone by Stone in Conservation Effort

Israeli archaeologists are inspecting the Kosel Hamaarovi stone by stone in a new conservation effort in Yerushalayim. The oldest stones were laid 2,000 years ago as part of the retaining wall of the Bais Hamikdosh, and the newest by the Ottomans, who ruled the area until 1917. Israeli Antiquities Authority archaeologist Jon Seligman says the work aims to make sure stones don’t collapse on those davening below.

Today, workers on a platform cleaned stones near the top of the 20-meter high wall. The authority says work will likely continue for two months.In other news, the Kosel recently got its annual Pesach spring cleaning. Employees at the Kosel, led by the rov of the Kosel, Rav Shmuel Rabinovich, embarked on removing the thousands of kvitlach, or notes, left by visitors in the cracks of the wall – including U.S. President Barack Obama this year – filled with wishes and prayers.

The notes are removed using wooden sticks immersed in a mikvah, supervised by Rav Rabinovitch. The notes are then taken for burial, to make room for an upcoming year of written requests.

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}