Faith
Placing Notes in the Western Wall
Question
Every so often I pray at the Western Wall, and I have never once placed a note there. I wanted to ask whether there is really any value in placing a note between the stones of the Wall?
Thank you very much
Answer
Hello,
It appears that this custom began with Jews who were unable to come to the Western Wall themselves, and instead sent a note with a request that it be placed between the stones of the Wall. However, for someone who can come to the Western Wall personally and pray with full lips before Hashem, there is no value in placing a note there.
Sources: In the book Padeh et Avraham, part 2 (section B, letter 15), there is a story about Rabbi Chaim ben Attar, author of Ohr HaChaim, who gave his student a written request at the Western Wall, and his sustenance came to him (see also in Chazon Ovadia, Four Fast Days, pages 248-249, in the footnote, where he cites what Padeh et Avraham wrote, and added that in the book Har HaKodesh, end of page 265, the above story is brought in the name of the Rabbi, author of Minchat Elazar, as he received it from his ancestors).
See also Responsa Tzitz Eliezer, part 10 (section 5, letter 6), which cites the words of Padeh et Avraham and writes that perhaps this is what caused the custom to spread among many Jews of placing request notes in the cracks between the stones of the Wall. See also Responsa Shaarei Tzion (section 4, letter 1) and the book The Western Wall - Laws and Customs (page 109, and in notes 43-45).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
