Open Search form

Western Wall

Apply for a Blog

Rebecca Liebermann Nissel

May 29, 2026, 9:12 AM

An oasis on the way to the Kotel

At a rather fast pace, we walked through the Arab shuk on our way to the Kotel to daven Mincha. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a group of Jews gathered around a small kiosk, cups in...

May 26, 2026, 5:08 AM

Who “Owns” the Torah?

A few days ago, we celebrated the giving of the Torah, our most sacred text, at Mount Sinai. Paradoxically, this legal, ethical, and spiritual covenant is what makes us free, since without law there is no freedom. Law provides a...

Apr 19, 2026, 4:37 PM

It Depends on Us: Realizing Declaration of Independence Promises

Many Israelis note Independence Day with activities that start with bereavement and culminate in a barbeque; that’s only natural in our reality. For me, the day is also an opportunity to consider whether the rights guaranteed by our Declaration...

Apr 5, 2026, 1:22 PM

When the Kotel Is Empty

Michael Rogatchi (C). The Kotel. Oil on canvas. 1999.

Not in my wildest nightmare could I ever imagine the reality that we are witnessing today at the heart of Israel, in Jerusalem, where the Kotel plaza is virtually empty for days prior to Pesach and during the holiday...

Mar 30, 2026, 7:40 PM

Playground Politics at ‘The Wall’

Perhaps now, with the Middle East engulfed in war we can reexamine issues that seemed so crucial just a few months ago with a perspective that eluded us then. And perhaps we can finally have a less aggressive conversation...

Sharona Margolin Halickman

Mar 30, 2026, 6:52 PM

Why is this Passover in Israel different from all other years?

We are asking new questions, as many have had to make last-minute adjustments to their plans and we all may be interrupted at any time by a missile alert

Daphne Lazar Price

Mar 18, 2026, 3:36 PM

A Confident Judaism Should Not Fear Women’s Torah at the Wall

For nearly four decades, the debate over the Western Wall has been framed as a battle between denominations. Reform and Conservative leaders demand recognition. Ultra-Orthodox parties demand preservation of “tradition.” The Israeli government oscillates between compromise and capitulation. The...

Mar 15, 2026, 5:34 PM

A Different Kind of Existential Threat

In the award-winning Israeli film The Women's Balcony (2016), a charismatic rabbi, Rav Dovid (Aviv Alush), comes to rebuild a collapsed synagogue. However, Rav Dovid also uses his influence to restrict the ability of the women to participate in...

Sharona Margolin Halickman

Mar 10, 2026, 4:17 PM

Where did the incense come from?

In Parshat Vayakhel (Shmot 35:8), Moshe requests spices as a Teruma offering for the Mishkan (Tabernacle): …Spices for anointing oil, and for the incense of aromatic spices (Ktoret HaSamim)… We are already familiar with the incense from last week’s parsha, Parshat...

Marc J. Rosenstein

Mar 6, 2026, 5:37 PM

The Jewish Power Blog: Owning the Holy

Around 950 BCE King Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, where the nation’s communication with God was to be focused, through sacrifices offered by the priests. At his dedication service, Solomon alluded to a theological problem: “But will God...

Load more