Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, in keeping with tradition, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation has removed the prayer notes placed between the stones of the Kosel over the past six months, transferring them for dedicated genizah in accordance with Halacha

Over the past year, tens of thousands of notes arrived from 140 countries around the world, among them are also moving requests for peace sent from nations hostile to Israel, alongside notes placed by world leaders, IDF soldiers, Israeli citizens, and tourists.

Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, accompanied the removal and offered a special Tefila for the unity of the Jewish people and for the acceptance of the prayers contained within the thousands of notes.

The notes were removed using gloves and disposable wooden implements, preserving both the sanctity of the site and the personal contents of each note. They were collected in specially designated sacks and will be buried together with worn sacred texts as part of the genizah.

The Foundation notes that hundreds of prayer notes are submitted daily through its website, in addition to the hundreds of thousands placed in person by daily visitors year-round. Particularly striking are the notes sent through the website by citizens of countries hostile to Israel, including Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, and Kazakhstan – carrying heartfelt requests and prayers for peace, reconciliation, and ties between peoples.

Beyond the US, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Ukraine, and Canada, notes arrived from far more unexpected places too — India, South Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, Jamaica, Kenya, and Nigeria — a testament to just how far the magnetic pull of the Kosel reaches, and how many hearts and souls, from every corner of the world, turn toward that one Wall.