When Jews Were Forbidden to Visit the Kotel
Catching a glimpse of the Kotel in 1930 after Arab riots made it impossible to visit
It is unclear when this picture was taken. The title on the Library of Congress photo states, “The Temple area. Western wall of Temple area. Distant view of so-called Wailing Wall.” The date on the picture is “between 1920 and 1933.”
Is it possible that the Jews in the picture couldn’t get to the Western Wall? And to go would mean risking their lives? If that’s the case then this picture was probably taken in 1929 or 1936.
In those years Arab attackers killed and wounded scores of Jews, and to go to the Kotel was to risk life and limb.
The American Colony photographers found it noteworthy to film the deserted Kotel on both occasions. View pictures of Jews fleeing the Old City of Jerusalem in 1929 and 1936