The Western Wall plays an important role in Judaism due to it being part of the man-made "Temple Mount", an artificially expanded hilltop best known as the traditional site of the Jewish Temple. Because of the Temple Mount entry restrictions, the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray outside the Temple Mount platform, because the presumed site of the Holy of Holies, the most sacred site in the Jewish faith, presumably lies just above and behind it. The original, natural, and irregular-shaped Temple Mount was gradually extended to allow for an ever-larger Temple compound to be built at its top. The earliest source possibly mentioning this specific site as a place of Jewish worship is from the 10th century.Löfgren, Eliel; Barde, Charles; Van Kempen, J. (December 1930). Report of the Commission appointed by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the approval of the Council of the League of Nations, to determine the rights and claims of Moslems and Jews in connection with the Western or Wailing Wall at Jerusalem (UNISPAL doc A/7057-S/8427, February 23, 1968) The Western Wall, in the narrow sense, i.e. referring to the section used for Jewish prayer, is also known as the "Wailing Wall", in reference to the practice of Jews weeping at the site. During the period of Christian Roman rule over Jerusalem (ca. 324–638), Jews were completely barred from Jerusalem except on Tisha B'Av, the day of national mourning for the Temples. The term "Wailing Wall" has historically been used mainly by Christians, with use by Jews becoming marginal. Of the entire retaining wall, the section ritually used by Jews now faces a large plaza in the Jewish Quarter, near the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount, while the rest of the wall is concealed behind structures in the Muslim Quarter, with the small exception of an section, the so-called "Little Western Wall" or "Small Wailing Wall". This segment of the western retaining wall derives particular importance from having never been fully obscured by medieval buildings, and displaying much of the original Herodian stonework. In religious terms, the "Little Western Wall" is presumed to be even closer to the Holy of Holies and thus to the "presence of God" (Shechina), and the underground Warren's Gate, which has been out of reach for Jews from the 12th century till its partial excavation in the 20th century.
The Western Wall plays an important role in Judaism due to it being part of the man-made "Temple Mount" an artificially expanded hilltop best known as the traditional site of the Jewish Temple Because of the Temple Mount entry restrictions the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray outside the Temple Mount platform because the presumed site of the Holy of Holies the most sacred site in the Jewish faith presumably lies just above and behind it The original natural and irregular-shaped Temple Mount was gradually extended to allow for an ever-larger Temple compound to be built at its top The earliest source possibly mentioning this specific site as a place of Jewish worship is from the 10th centuryLöfgren Eliel; Barde Charles; Van Kempen J (December 1930) Report of the Commission appointed by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the approval of the Council of the League of Nations to determine the rights and claims of Moslems and Jews in connection with the Western or Wailing Wall at Jerusalem (UNISPAL doc A/7057-S/8427 February 23 1968) The Western Wall in the narrow sense ie referring to the section used for Jewish prayer is also known as the "Wailing Wall" in reference to the practice of Jews weeping at the site During the period of Christian Roman rule over Jerusalem (ca 324–638) Jews were completely barred from Jerusalem except on Tisha B'Av the day of national mourning for the Temples The term "Wailing Wall" has historically been used mainly by Christians with use by Jews becoming marginal Of the entire retaining wall the section ritually used by Jews now faces a large plaza in the Jewish Quarter near the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount while the rest of the wall is concealed behind structures in the Muslim Quarter with the small exception of an section the so-called "Little Western Wall" or "Small Wailing Wall" This segment of the western retaining wall derives particular importance from having never been fully obscured by medieval buildings and displaying much of the original Herodian stonework In religious terms the "Little Western Wall" is presumed to be even closer to the Holy of Holies and thus to the "presence of God" (Shechina) and the underground Warren's Gate which has been out of reach for Jews from the 12th century till its partial excavation in the 20th century