Halocho #1096 - The Kotel is in our hands

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 one's 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 those days when one doesn't say Tachanun, including Friday afternoons.

- Danny
Wednesday, 28 Iyar 5773 - Yom Yerushalayim - 43rd day of the Omer

Please daven for the complete recovery of a little boy diagnosed with lymphoma:

יוֹנָתָן-שִׂמְחָה בֶּן לֵאָה-רִבְקָה