Passing Notes
Originally uploaded by Andrew Günsberg
Why say a silent prayer when you can pass a note?
Here’s a shot of notes jammed into the ancient Western Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem.
This particular stone block is about 1.5m square. This colossal structure was built by hand, with no mortar, over 2000 years ago.
For the true significance of the place, have a read of this.
The rough version and short story is that for a very long time, this is the closest that Jews have been able to get to the most Holy site in their belief.
As a result, millions of people flock to pray here every year, and from what I understand as they believe that it’s “close to G-d” and that a divine presence rests upon the wall.
So people aren’t praying to a wall, they’re praying to the presence within… It’s confusing.
Anyway. Because of the incredible sanctity of the place, people believe that if one places a note with prayers on it within the cracks of the wall, the wishes on the note are within the presence of the Divine, and therefore have a better chance of happening.
As a result, the millions of people who come here to pray also stuff tiny notes within the cracks.
Look at this photo large.
See just how many notes and prayers are within every nook and cranny..
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Click the Image to View Large
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My research on topics such as this for my book revealed that it was written in the Bible and told by ancient ‘messengers’ called Prophets that Jesus would end all ‘religious’ practices of outward rituals (such as that) by giving mankind a direct ‘connection’ to God through the Holy Spirit. Fascinating stuff!