Had an interesting discussion this past week with someone who had taught The Secret Life of Bees. She was commenting upon the wailing wall mentioned in the novel, and we wondered whether the wall in Jerusalem was the first such wall.

Does anyone here know of such practices prior to the wall in Jerusalem? (Suppose I could Google the information, but have to leave now for an appointment. So, if you know, thanks for providing the information.)

I didn't know that the Western (aka Wailing) Wall had become a generic term? How is it used in <i>The Secret Life of Bees</i>? It's the wall of a courtyard dating from the times before the Temple of Solomon was destroyed by the Romans when they razed Jerusalem. Jews have been praying there for quite a while.

when they raised Jerusalem

?

when they raised Jerusalem

Sorry, my typo: "when they razed Jerusalem".