 The term Western Wall and its variations is mostly used in a narrow sense for the section traditionally used by Jews for prayer , and it has also been called the " Wailing Wall " , referring to the practice of Jews weeping at the site over the destruction of the Temples . During the period of Christian Roman rule over Jerusalem ( ca . 324 – 638 ) , Jews were completely barred from Jerusalem except to attend Tisha be @-@ Av , the day of national mourning for the Temples , and on this day the Jews would weep at their holy places . The term " Wailing Wall " was thus almost exclusively used by Christians , and was revived in the period of non @-@ Jewish control between the establishment of British Rule in 1920 and the Six @-@ Day War in 1967 . The term " Wailing Wall " is not used by Jews and increasingly many others who consider it derogatory . 
