The small part of the retaining wall standing today was originally part of the Second Jewish Temple complex. The ashlar stone wall probably built at around 80 BC, currently supports a flat platform of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Due to the connection to the destroyed holy Jewish temple, at present the Western Wall is the holiest place where Jews have the right to pray, but the holiest site in the Jewish faith lies actually behind it. The place is also known as the Wailing Wall, what refers to the practice of Jews weeping in this place over the destruction of their holy temples.
Men and women have no right to pray together. The vertical screen called mechitza divides the square in front of the wall into two separate prayer sections.
