Jews praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem - 1870s
The Western Wall in Jerusalem has always been one of the main sites of pilgrimage for the Jews. The wall is what is left of the Second Temple, which the Romans destroyed in 70 CE in the aftermath of the uprising of the Jews against imperial rule.It is called the Wailing Wall by some because Jews come here to mourn the loss of the Temple.
It is also important to note the women present in the picture. The wall has had and continues to have separate sections for men and women, so it is interesting to see these men and what are presumably their wives being at the same section of the wall.
Behind the wall lay the iconic Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This has been a source of controversy for both the Muslims and the Jews of the area since Jews from Europe began moving here in significant numbers. The site is known as Temple Mount to the Jews, and, even though it is the holiest place in Judaism, Jews are not allowed to worship there.
