Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Halocho #369 - Why be sad when visiting the Kotel?

The Kotel ("Wailing wall") is the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount where the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) stood until it was destroyed over 1,900 years ago.

The Kotel "plaza" is outside the Temple Mount. Every prayer of ours - Amida and Birkat Hamazon - includes a supplication to once again be able to serve Hashem on the other side of the Kotel; from inside the rebuilt Bet Hamikdash.

When seeing the place where the Bet Hamikdash stood, one needs to do Kri'a; tear ones clothes in the same way that mourners do.

One only needs to tear Kri'a if one hasn't been in Jerusalem for 30 days or longer.

Source Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 561

The prevalent Yerushalmi custom is not to tear Kri'a on days one doesn't say Tachanun, including Friday afternoons.

- Danny Tuesday, 22 Tamuz 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

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