Sticking out from the side of Haram ash-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall is one of the most sacred and spiritual places in all of Judaism. It lies there, in the shadow of its opulent neighbor, an arrant contrast. The wall is plain, and simple. It really does look like just a wall, but it is its history and its ability to gather so many worshipers to its base that makes it one of the truly remarkable sites in all of Jerusalem.
Security to get into the wall is understandably tight, but once you are in, you are immediately struck by the serenity of the place. The main area is filled with people bustling about, but the area directly in front of the wall is roped off, reserved only for Jews, and is completely serene. This area is filled all day with worshipers standing before the wall, their faces barely six inches away, only to then press their hands against the wall and full their face close to kiss the stone before them. Some even put prayers that they have written on scraps of paper into the wall in hopes that they will be heeded. Others sit on benches, with an open Torah in front of them swaying as they chant, losing themselves completely in the rhythm of their words.
The Western Wall is open 24 hours a day, and if you can, you should come and see the Wall at night, when the place is most peaceful and the wall glows in the light of the moon. Also if you can, make your way up the stairs behind the entrance of the wall to one of the rooftop lookouts above. These offer the best views of the wall. From there you can not only see the wall in its entirety, but you can also see the Dome of the Rock peeking up behind it. It is a strange feeling to stand there and look at to places so holy to their religion right next to each other, touching each other, living in perfect symbiosis all while their followers cannot seem to find the same harmony.