Going to the Kotel

QUESTION:

I am an Oleh Hadash and am going to visit Jerusalem and the Kotel on
Sunday.
I have a standard Sephardic prayerbook and a Tehillim book - what are the
prayers that should be said at the Kotel? Are there particular Tehillim
which should be prayed?

thank you.
J Ts.


ANSWER:

Firstly, Mazel Tov on your Aliya. I wish you every success in everything you
do. Visiting the kotel can be a tremendously uplifting spiritual experience,
and may be exciting and wonderful, but at the same time we must remember
that we are still in mourning for the destruction of the Temple, and the
Talmud in Yoma says that every generation in which the Temple is not rebuilt
is as if it was destroyed in that generation. Therefore, most of the prayers
and customs for seeing the Kotel for the first time (or if one has not seen
it for more than 30 days) come from the funeral service and demonstrate our
mourning for the destruction.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orech Chaim 561) says that someone who sees the place of
the Beit Hamikdash when it is destroyed (i.e. the kotel nowadays) should
tear their clothes and say "Beit Kodsheinu v'Tifarteinu ahsere hillelucha bo
avoteinu haya l'sreiphat eish, v'chol machmadeinu haya lchorva." There is
some dispute amongst contemporary poskim as to whether one should actually
tear their clothes, or wear clothes borrowed from someone else (which may
not be torn, since they do not belong to the wearer). Most Ashkenazi poskim
seem to hold that one should actually tear their garments (one tefach -
approx 3 inches) from the collar down towards the heart. The tear should be
made while standing, and preferably with one's hands (though sometimes
scissors are necessary to start the tearing). I do not know what Sefardim
poskim say on the issue.
The Mishna Brura says that one should cry and mourn on the destruction of
the Temple and say 'Mizmor l'Asaf' (psalm 50). When someone tears their
clothes they should say 'baruch dayan ha'emet' (without G-d's name) 'ki kol
mishpatav tzedek v'emet, hatzur tamim p'alo ki kol d'rachav mishpat, e-l
emuna v'ain avel tzadik v'yashar hu. V'atah tzadik al kol habah aleinu, ki
emet asita v'anachnu hirshanu (Nechemiah 9:33)' . (all of this is from the
funeral service). (Blessed are You, the True Judge; for all Your judgements
are just and true. The Rock - perfect is His work, for all His paths are
justice; a G-d of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He; But You
are righteous in all that has come upon us, for You have acted truthfully
while we have caused wickedness.)
I would just add that we may (must) pray wherever we are in the world, and
at whatever stage of our life. However, any prayers that are said from the
heart, at the kotel, which is the last remnant of our Holy Temple, and said
by someone who has just come to live in Israel, and thereby come closer to
the Source of all blessings, are going to be heard and answered by G-d.
Anything you can pray for, in whatever language, will bring down blessings
(and peace) all of klal yisrael. Take the opportunity to speak to G-d
directly, with whatever words you have, exposing all your most inner
thoughts to Him, and allow Him to do the rest.
I hope this answer helps. May we soon merit to see the rebuilt Temple, and
may all the sadness be replaced with gladness and joy.
Wishing you every success with your life in Israel
Rabbi David Sedley