The Western Wall, also known as Wailing Wall, is Judaism’s holiest place in the world. It’s part of the retaining wall erected by Herod the Great in 20 BC to support the vast plaza on which he rebuilt the Temple, and it is venerated as the sole remnant of the Temple. The wall and the plaza in front of it form a permanent place of worship, a site of pilgrimage for Jews and a focus of prayer The Jewish name for the wall is the Kotel.