Gestern • 5 Min.

This is the English version of a German episode. Every day, hundreds of people tuck small notes into the cracks of the Western Wall in Jerusalem — requests, fears, wishes, folded down to just a few centimeters of paper. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people leave their most personal thoughts there. But the Kotel, as the wall is called in Hebrew, can't hold an endless amount. So twice a year, before Passover and before Rosh Hashanah, it gets cleared out. Why the Western Wall is the closest accessible point to the holiest site in Judaism, why Christians, Muslims, and non-religious people leave their wishes there too, and what really happens to all those notes in the end — that's what this episode is about. Plus: why does even Israel's postal service deliver letters addressed to God at the Western Wall every year? Want to support the work behind “Israel, Explained”? Become a monthly supporter, with an optional name credit and ad-free episodes:⁠ https://patreon.com/Israelkurzerklart⁠ Or make a one-time contribution of any amount:⁠ https://buymeacoffee.com/israelkurzerklaert⁠ Thank you! Questions, feedback, or topic suggestions: podcast@elisabeth-krafft.de Editorial & Production: Elisabeth Krafft Originally published in German as: Was passiert mit den Zetteln in der Klagemauer? This podcast was translated and produced with the help of AI.