Stone Falls from ‘Machkameh’ Wall, Plaza Declared Safe

Less than 48 hours before Tisha B’Av, a stone fell from the ‘Machkameh’ wall into the Kosel plaza, without injuries BH. Engineers confirmed that there is no danger and, if Moshiach doesn’t come, tefilos will be held at the plaza.

This morning (Sunday), during the early morning shachris at the Western Wall Plaza, a stone fell from the ‘Machkameh’ wall into the prayer area at the Western Wall. Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of the fall.

The ‘Machkameh’ is a structure built approximately 700 years ago by the Mamluks and served for centuries as a courthouse and administrative center. Today, the site houses a Border Police base that overlooks the prayer plaza at the Western Wall, located above ‘Wilson’s Arch’—the covered prayer hall in the Western Wall Plaza.

Following the stone’s fall, an unusual event at the Western Wall, the area where the stone fell has been cordoned off. The incident is being investigated and addressed by the staff of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the Israel Antiquities Authority, who are conducting an assessment at the site.

A preliminary investigation found that water penetration from the roof of the ‘Makhkameh’ created pressure on the stones and the mortar between them, leading to the stone’s fall.

The Foundation’s engineers clarify that there is no concern for the safety of those visiting the Western Wall Plaza, and they are working to seal the roof of the Makhkameh, replace the mortar, and conduct a thorough inspection of the stones in the structure.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation regularly conducts professional inspections of the stones of the Western Wall. The last inspection was conducted before the recent Passover holiday and found everything to be in order. These inspections are carried out twice a year by engineers and the Israel Antiquities Authority to check the stability and strength of the stones. A crane, manned by engineers and professionals, is positioned before the High Holidays and Passover, from which they examine the stones’ condition.

Photo credit: Western Wall Heritage Foundation