Western Wall reopens to worshipers
Workers disinfect the Western Wall, the most holy site where Jews can pray, on March 31, 2020 against the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 in Jerusalem. Image by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Western Wall Plaza reopened to worshipers on Tuesday morning.
The reopening comes after the Israeli government relaxed some of its coronavirus restrictions, including canceling the restriction on joining outdoor prayer services only within 500 meters from a person’s home.
For the last few weeks, only 10 and then 19 worshipers could be at the Western Wall at any time, and only those who live in the Old City.
The plaza in front of the Western Wall will be divided into as many prayer areas as possible in accordance with government social distancing regulations, The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which operates the holy site, said in a statement.
For the next few days, up to 300 worshipers will be allowed to be in the Western Wall plaza at one time, contingent on them wearing masks. Once the prayer areas are full, worshipers will be required to wait outside the entrances to the Western Wall, with the required distances between them, until space becomes available, according to the statement. Reports also said that worshipers will have their temperatures taken and personal details recorded before they can enter the plaza.
The Western Wall tunnels will remain closed for the time being.
The post Western Wall reopens to worshipers after coronavirus restrictions relaxed appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!
