As Rosh Hashanah draws nigh, Western Wall gets traditional cleaning

Workers at Judaism's holiest site remove prayer notes.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

AUGUST 25, 2013 14:50

Western Wall plaza general view 150 (photo credit: REUTERS/Marko Djurica) — Western Wall plaza general view 150

(photo credit: REUTERS/Marko Djurica)

With the Jewish new year upon us, maintenance workers at the Western Wall on Sunday cleaned out the prayer notes left behind by the many tourists and dignitaries who made the pilgrimage to Judaism's holiest site in order to submit a request to God.

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices — Workers at the Western Wall clean notes out of the crevices (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)

The notes are taken to the Mount of Olives for burial, as per tradition. Jews began placing notes in the cracks of the Western Wall in the 18th century, and since the custom has remained in practice.