 The writings of various travellers in the Holy Land , especially in the 18th and 19th centuries , tell of how the Wall and its environs continued to be a place of devotion for the Jews . Isaac Yahuda , a prominent member of the Sephardic community in Jerusalem recalled how men and women used to gather in a circle at the Wall to hear sermons delivered in Ladino . His great @-@ grandmother , who arrived in Palestine in 1841 , " used to go to the Western Wall every Friday afternoon , winter and summer , and stay there until candle @-@ lighting time , reading the entire Book of Psalms and the Song of Songs ... she would sit there by herself for hours . " In the past women could be found sitting at the entrance to the Wall every Sabbath holding fragrant herbs and spices in order to enable worshipers to make additional blessings . In the hot weather they would provide cool water . The women also used to cast lots for the privilege of sweeping and washing the alleyway at the foot of the Wall . Throughout the ages , the Wall is where Jews have gathered to express gratitude to God or to pray for divine mercy . On news of the Normandy landings on June 6 , 1944 thousands of Jews went to the Wall to offer prayers for the " success of His Majesty ’ s and Allied Forces in the liberation of all enemy @-@ occupied territory . " On October 13 , 1994 , 50 @,@ 000 gathered to pray for the safe return of kidnapped soldier Nachshon Wachsman . August 10 , 2005 saw a massive prayer rally at the Wall . Estimates of people protesting Israel 's unilateral disengagement plan ranged from 50 @,@ 000 to 250 @,@ 000 people . Every year on Tisha B 'Av large crowds congregate at the Wall to commemorate the destruction of the Temple . In 2007 over 100 @,@ 000 gathered . During the month of Tishrei 2009 , a record 1 @.@ 5 million people visited the site . 
