Little Western Wall

The Little Western Wall, (Hebrew: הכותל הקטן, translit.: "Ha-Kotel Ha-Katan"), is a Jewish religious site located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem near the Iron Gate to the Temple Mount. The wall itself dates from the Second Temple period, (516 BCE - 70 CE).

Location and dimensions

Unlike the more famous Western Wall, the Kotel Katan does not have a large plaza facing it. It is a narrow alley and only the two lowest level of bricks date from the Second Temple period. Unlike those on the Western Wall, the bricks have not been worn smooth by the touch of millions of worshippers. The Kotel Katan resembles the Western Wall as it appeared before the Six Day War. After it was recaptured by Israel, the Western Wall plaza was expanded from an alley to a large open square.

Modern History

Because the Kotel Katan is much closer to the site of the possible location of the Holy of Holies than the larger Western Wall, it has significance to Jews, who wish to continue to pray at the site. For local Muslim residents, the alley is known as Rabat El Kurd, and is used as a passage to gain access to their homes, which surround the Kotel Katan. In the summer of 2000, Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Ikrima Sabri moved his office opposite the Kotel Katan as an expression of opposition to Jewish expansion plans in the neighborhood.