Kotel notes

They get wet. And every so often, a cleaner comes around and sweeps them all up. But I believe they are disposed of in a respectful way- I think they are buried.

I heard that a miracle occurs and they don’t get wet.

Or maybe they get wet, but Hashem has plenty of malachim to sort through them to figure out what they say.

Or maybe Hashem knows what you wrote, even without reading it.

The periodically clean the kotel notes anyway. Otherwise the wall would be too full to take new ones. there was an article I saw on another site describing the process with photographs

Are you allowed to put the notes or remove them as you are eroding the stones which was sanctified when it was built? Are you Mo-El Bi- Hekdosh? Are they undermining the stability of the wall? I know everyone does it but is it right?

If the notes are in a crevice they will probably not get wet, unless they are protruding.

There it snothing intrinsically holy about the kotel. Herod vastly expanded the mint by adding a platform and the kotel was part of the retaining wall.

Yes, LB, the kosel is open 24/7. And there are probably people there at all times. For a real moving experience, I suggest you go at chatzos- halachic midnight and catch a Nishmas minyan.

Lightb, I don’t think Abba was asking if the WWFoundation allows the notes when he asked if it’s permitted.

AbbaS, I have heard people ask whether pushing notes into the crevices might be assur, not because you’re undermining stability of the wall, but because you may inadvertently approach an area that has Kedusha. I don’t know the answer; I’d be curious if anyone else has heard anything like that. For myself I didn’t feel the need to put my bakashos down on paper.

Golfer – that’s also what I always heard. I was always told not to write notes for that reason. I don’t know if it’s true or not.

I wonder where the whole idea of writing notes came from. Is there any valid source for writing notes to Hashem? We usually talk to Hashem with our mouths – we don’t usually write notes to Him.

Golfer AbbaS, I have heard people ask whether pushing notes into the crevices might be assur, not because you’re undermining stability of the wall, but because you may inadvertently approach an area that has Kedusha. I don’t know the answer; I’d be curious if anyone else has heard anything like that.

The amount of damage is minuscule,which is why it is permitted, but over time with thousand of people doing it the crevices are enlarged. As far as sticking their hands deeply in the crevice, I have not done it nor seen anyone do it, but I assume the just put it on the edge of the crevice and the next person does the same pushing the first one deeper into the crevice. I assume the notes dates from the times concept of writing when they use to write kvittles to the Rebbi. If it was good enough for the rabbi how much more so for Hashem.

As far as the wall itself it surrounded the courtyard and any expansion required the approval of the Bais Din of 71 and was paid out of the excess funds from the half Shekel poll tax and should have the same kiddusha as the Bais Ha”Mikdash.