Little Western Wall Synagogue

The Little Western Wall (Hebrew: HaKotel HaKatan) is a short section of the ancient retaining wall of the Temple Mount located within Jerusalem’s Old City. It forms part of the same Herodian-era masonry that makes up the larger Western Wall complex.

The area functions as a compact prayer space with a lower and narrower stretch of ancient ashlar stones compared with the main Western Wall Plaza. It is used by worshippers who visit this smaller enclosure and by those seeking a less crowded or different location adjacent to the larger wall.

The surviving masonry belongs to the retaining structures built in the Herodian period in the first century BCE to the first century CE and has been a place of devotion and attention across later centuries.

The Little Western Wall is located in Jerusalem’s Old City, a short walk north of the main Western Wall Plaza, within the dense streets of the historic walled city.

• Distinct prayer area: The site is a short, narrow prayer area that provides a different vantage point along the western retaining wall of the Temple Mount than the main Western Wall Plaza.

The Little Western Wall is located along the Western Wall’s southern reaches in the Old City of Jerusalem. From the Western Wall Plaza, head north along the wall or ask at the plaza’s information desks for the path to the narrower prayer sections and tunnel exits; pedestrian access is on foot via the Old City’s network of alleys. Note that certain gates and routes are subject to security checks.

• Visit early morning to find a quieter prayer space; midday and late afternoons are busiest with worshippers and tourists.
• If going to the Western Wall complex, ask at the visitor information for the best route to the smaller recess - signage can be minimal.
• Be respectful of ongoing religious observance; photography is sometimes restricted during services.