Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 16, 2008 Nisan 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:06 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 15:50 16/04/2008 Spring cleaning: Rabbi removes prayer notes from Western Wall, to make room for more By The Associated Press Tags: Jerusalem, Western Wall  A rabbi and his helpers are carrying out a twice-yearly ritual in Jerusalem - removing thousands of notes with prayers and supplications from between the ancient stones of the Western Wall. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuele Rabinowitz says the clean-up ahead of the Jewish Passover holiday will clear the wall's crevices and free up space for more notes. The old notes are considered to have religious significance and are buried in a nearby cemetery according to Jewish tradition. Rabinowitz also said some small stone blocks on top of the wall are sliding apart. He hopes to have them fixed in the summer, but the main Muslim authority there objects. Advertisement The top Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, Mohammed Hussein, said on Tuesday that the wall is a part of the attached Al Aqsa mosque. He warned any Israel action there would be seen as aggression. The mosque compound is built atop the site of the biblical Jewish temples. Quarrels over the site have set off violence and have scuttled several rounds of Mideast peace efforts. The Western Wall is revered by Jews as a remnant of their biblical Temple, destroyed by Roman legions nearly 2,000 years ago. People of all faiths slip notes between its stones, believing that requests deposited at the site are more likely to be heard by God. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Never forget Peres, at Warsaw uprising memorial: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace. Return to Haifa Provocative new play evokes sympathy for both Jews and Palestinians   1.   Prayer notes 14:43  |  Clickfool 15/04/08   2.   Clickfool 15:10  |  Jay 15/04/08   3.   Number 1 15:20  |  AJB 15/04/08   4.   Secret to Answered Prayers 15:50  |  Rav Harley 15/04/08   5.   For Jay # 2 15:51  |  Clickfool 15/04/08   6.   ajb 3 15:59  |  potobac 15/04/08   7.   For Rav Harley # 4 16:08  |  Clickfool 15/04/08   8.   for Clickfool #7 16:31  |  Rav Harley 15/04/08   9.   Clickfool: no one can prove you wrong... 16:43  |  Richard S 15/04/08   10.   AJB #3 16:57  |  Webster 15/04/08   11.   Clickfool: a collect call to you from the Wall, do you accept it? 17:35  |  the Wall-operator 15/04/08   12.   Clickfool preps for Pesach 18:17  |  Phil 15/04/08   13.   Clickfool, you prove that people hate what they can`t understand. 18:23  |  Michael 15/04/08   14.   CLICKFOOL: THE REAL RESPONSE 18:51  |  ANTI-clickfool 15/04/08   15.   for Clickfool & Anti-CF #14 19:50  |  Rav Harley 15/04/08   16.   clickfool 17:49  |  wayne 16/04/08

Read & React UN calls for disarming of Hezbollah, Israel-Lebanon solution Responses: 84 Arrow successfully simulates intercept of mock Shihab missile Responses: 49 Report: Netanyahu says 9/11 terror attacks good for Israel Responses: 119 Three IDF soldiers killed in clashes near Gaza border Responses: 94 Lieberman to Carter: Meeting Meshal will only heighten terror Responses: 13 Rosner's Domain Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? A lot more on the J Street project (WTR) Poll: Were you convinced that America should stay in Iraq? Obama hits the 'G-spot' More Headlines 18:01 Hamas: IAF strike in Gaza kills 9 Palestinian civilians 15:34 Three Israeli soldiers killed in clashes near Gaza border 14:37 Survey: Nasrallah is the most admired leader in the Arab world 17:34 Report: Netanyahu says 9/11 terror attacks good for Israel 18:00 Lieberman to Carter: Meeting Meshal will only heighten terror 15:47 EU: Israel resumes supply of fuel to Gaza power plant 16:28 New Jewish-American lobby wants to be alternative to AIPAC 13:26 Report: David and Victoria Beckham to send son to L.A. Jewish school 16:53 South Korean cosmetics company pulls ad campaign with Nazi references 16:01 Breaking ranks with U.S. Jewish 'establishment' on the occupation 16:56 8-year-old Yemeni girl wants to divorce her 30-year-old husband 15:59 Court to postpone trial of Jerusalem mother suspected of child abuse 12:36 Opulence of Qatar leaves impression on visiting Livni 12:56 MKs: Terror warnings not enough, we must block entry into Sinai Previous Editions Select Day 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr

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