The Wailing Wall

The Western Wall is the only surviving remnant of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed by Titus in 68 C.E. The Temple, the center of the spiritual world, was the main conduit for the flow of Godliness into this world. When the Temple stood, there was respect for God, for His Torah, and for each other. The Temple Mount is also called Mount Moriah. This is the spot where Abraham bound Isaac, and where Jacob dreamt of the ladder reaching to heaven. 

In ancient times, the service in the Holy Temple during the week of Sukkot featured a total of 70 bull offerings. This, the Talmud explains, corresponds to each of the 70 nations of the world. In fact, the Talmud says that if the Romans (who destroyed the Temple) would have realized how much benefit they themselves were benefiting from the Temple, they never would have destroyed it!

Matthew Holmlund at the Wailing Wall

The left side (this view) of the Wailing Wall is for men only. The right side is for women. 

The Dome of the Rock, the first Muslim masterpiece, was built in 687 A.D. by Caliph Abd al-Malik, half a century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The rock marks the site from where Prophet Muhammad made his Miraaj or Night Journey into the heavens and back to Makkah. The Dome of the Rock presents the first example of the Islamic world-view and is the symbol of the oneness and continuity of the Abrahamic, i.e. Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith. 

Matthew Holmlund at the Dome of the Rock Mosque