Spring Cleaning At The Western Wall

Western Wall workers remove thousands of notes left by visitors, including US President Barack Obama, in the cracks of the Wall using wooden sticks first cleansed in a mikveh, ritual bath. The notes will then be taken for burial.

 

Western Wall notes removed to make room for new in annual clean
Western Wall workers remove thousands of notes left by visitors in the cracks of the wall using wooden sticks dipped in the mikveh, or ritual bath; they will then be taken for burial.
By Nadav Shragai • Ha’aretz

As masses of Jews begin intensive preparations for the upcoming Passover holiday, employees at Jerusalem's holy site, the Western Wall, have embarked on a spring cleaning of their own.

Western Wall workers have started to remove the thousands of notes left by visitors in the cracks of the wall - including U.S. President Barack Obama - filled with wishes and prayers.

The notes are removed using wooden sticks dipped in the mikveh, or ritual bath, supervised by the Western Wall's presiding clergyman, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch. They will then be taken for burial, to make room for an upcoming year of written requests.

Slideshow.

Comments

[Shlomo]

Why does the wooden stick have to be dipped in a Mikveh. Is wood Mkabel Tumeh?

[Adam Neira]

Fair enough ! The idea of the prayers on paper being lodged into the Western Wall has merit. A bit like people throwing pennies into the Trevi Fountain or a wishing well. I think now though that G-d is really listening to various people's prayers. He is making his own notes about who to bless and in what measure. The Temple Mount and it's Perimeter should be as pure and clean as possible without any encumbrances. The schechina needs unknotted access right now. Also the little black birds that make their homes in the cracks need some space to nest. The paper must also get messy when it rains and snows etc.

[dlz]

Shlomo:
That is a good question. First of all, a wooden implement which can't hold anything is not mekabel tumah. In addition, even if it was, immersing it in the mikveh would be superfluous because whoever is holding it is also tamei and will simply recontaminate it.