(VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Pesach is rapidly approaching and one of the national treasures that gets a facelift ahead of yomtov is the Kosel, where the kvitlach are removed from between the stones and the integrity of stones inspected for safety.

The removal of the kvitlach took place on Tuesday morning, sponsored by the Kosel Heritage Foundation.

Kosel Rav, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz was on hand at the Kosel to assist and oversea the operation.

Sections of the Kosel are closed off while the kvitlach are removed, then swept together and transferred for kvura with geniza (sheimos) on Har HaZeisim.

Millions of kvitlach are inserted between the stones annually, and they are removed before Pesach and Sukkos.

Many of the notes arrive by the Kosel website, fax and email.