Man looking over the divider at the women's praying section
This unusual matter is under investigation. The mayor of Jerusalem, the chief of police, the chief archeologist, the city engineer and other professionals have arrived fast at the scene of the fallen stone (according to the Media).
men's section
The fall of the rock could have been caused by natural erosion and/ or lack of proper engineering supervision (I opt for the second possibility). The ultra-orthodox, claim this is a red light, a message of warning from God regarding the area of mixed gender prayer established after heavy pressure from the Reform leaders.
The Reformists , claim the opposite; the message of warning is addressed to the orthodox who practice 'sinat chinam' (senseless hatred). On T'isha b' Av, 'sinat chinam' is the main topic of discussion and prayer, as according to talmudic sages this is what led to the destruction of the first and second temple.
mother, girl, and baby coming from the Wall
I don't belong to any religious camp. I'm not for organized religion anyway. I believe in God and pray to God as my heart, thoughts, and traditional background guide me.
Having said that , the detachment of the stone from the Wall cannot and does not leave anyone indifferent. It came as a big surprise, at a specific timing (on Tisha b'Av, just a few hours after the fast of the mourners at the Wall ended), and in a specific place - the controversial temporary platform of no segregation between men and women, in use since about 2013.
So, all that makes one ponder....or, as the rabbi of the Western Wall has put it- 'this calls for soul-searching'. It certainly does.
* (the above photos were taken during my visit there in December. See the post on the visit by typing 'Wall' in the search box).