The Western Wall was one of four retaining walls constructed by King Herod around the Temple Mount Never part of the Holy Temple itself, but a symbol of Jewish yearning throughout the centuries of seemingly endless Exile It held no religious significance when the Temple stood but came to represent the Jews' hope of returning home from Exile To live in Israel, to pray in Jerusalem; following the War of 1967, the Western Wall came into Jewish hands For the first time in nearly two thousand years, liberated by Israeli paratroopers, themselves overcome by emotion at the event Over time, it gradually morphed into a de facto synagogue run by ultra-Orthodox Jews who believe they're still living in Exile
d’Verse Poetics Prompt:
‘Passions Stamped on Lifeless Things’
At d’Verse, poets were invited to write poems about historical artifacts, including family heirlooms, museum pieces, monuments, palaces, etc. The choice belongs to the poet, but there must be some link to history and the past. There is no length or style requirement.
Let’s write poetry together!
When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
I love this information and poem.
❤ ❤ Lauren ❤ ❤
Some never wish to be free. I think anger, stubbornness, and unacceptance are evils that destroy inner peace. Lost forever…
😘 Terveen 😘
You capture the complexity of feeling, from the origins, the transition of history, to an Independent modern state with antecedent feelings, now least controlled thought by the ultra-orthodox, which raises the question, whose wall is it any way – wonderful poem that challenges my thinking and feeling David.
❤ Paul ❤ – thank you!
Shabbat shalom,
David
When it comes to religion, we are always so invested in objects and their symbolism. Always learn something from you. ❤️
Likewise ❣️
Always an education.
💕 Espie 💕 – I aim to please.
Nicely done, David. I enjoyed reading this. 🙂
🤗 Bill 🤗
Excellent take!
💘 Reena 💘 – Thanks!
-David
The most spiritual experience I ever had at the Kotel was when I went on a random weeknight night, totally unplanned and I was wearing jeans, and almost no one was there. The times I went during the day, properly dressed when it was crowded with all the outwardly extremely religious people and tourists, I felt like I was supposed to be getting something out of the experience, but I really wasn’t.
were your jeans “holy”? 😉
Well, perhaps they are now! 😉
This is a great symbol of course… I wonder how it must be to always be in exile… does exile becomes a home?
I would argue yes.
Thank you for sharing the story, David …. and the perpetual exile as well. One of my great joys to do with this site …. learning from the wondrous array of artists who meet here.
❤ Bev ❤ – thank you. It is my joy also.