 There was once an old custom of removing one 's shoes upon approaching the Wall . A 17th @-@ century collection of special prayers to be said at holy places mentions that " upon coming to the Western Wall one should remove his shoes , bow and recite ... " . Rabbi Moses Reicher wrote that " it is a good and praiseworthy custom to approach the Western Wall in white garments after ablution , kneel and prostrate oneself in submission and recite " This is nothing other than the House of God and here is the gate of Heaven . " When within four cubits of the Wall , one should remove their footwear . " Over the years the custom of standing barefoot at the Wall has ceased , as there is no need to remove one 's shoes when standing by the Wall , because the plaza area is outside the sanctified precinct of the Temple Mount . 
