Kvitlach Cleared from the Kotel Ahead of Rosh Hashanah (Video & Photos)

By BJLife Israel Newsroom
Posted on 09/16/25

Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 16, 2025 - In keeping with tradition ahead of the High Holidays, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation today (Tuesday) carried out the semi-annual removal of kvitlach that had been placed between the stones of the Western Wall over the past six months. The notes will be transferred for respectful burial in a dedicated genizah alongside worn-out sacred books.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, accompanied the process and offered a prayer for unity among the Jewish people and for the acceptance of the thousands of prayers written in the notes.

The notes were removed in accordance with Jewish law, using gloves and disposable wooden tools to safeguard the sanctity of the site and the privacy of those who placed them. They were collected in special sacks and will be buried in accordance with religious tradition.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reports that hundreds of notes arrive daily via its website, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of slips of paper inserted directly into the Wall by worshippers and visitors throughout the year.

This year, a particularly moving phenomenon emerged: notes sent online from citizens of countries traditionally hostile to Israel, including Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and others. Many of these contained heartfelt prayers for peace, reconciliation, and stronger ties between nations.

Over the past year, world leaders and public figures visiting Israel have also left personal notes at the Wall. Among them was a message from U.S. President Donald Trump, delivered at the start of his presidency through U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, in which he wrote: “For peace in Israel!” These notes joined countless others placed by IDF soldiers, families of hostages, bereaved families, wounded soldiers, and visitors from across Israel and around the world.

To make the tradition more accessible, the Foundation recently launched a new WhatsApp bot, enabling people to send names and prayer requests directly to the Western Wall, where they are placed daily between its stones. Requests can be sent to: 052-4288732.