Western Wall & Mizrach

The Jewish concept of Mizrach (also spelled Mizrah or Mizrakh) holds deep significance in Jewish tradition, particularly in relation to prayer. The Hebrew word מִזְרָח (mizrach) literally means "east," but in Jewish practice, it refers to the direction Jews face during prayer, oriented toward Jerusalem and the site of the ancient Temple.

This practice stems from the Book of Daniel 6:10 where Daniel prays towards Jerusalem, the Talmud (Berakhot 30a) instructs that Jews in the Diaspora should direct their hearts toward the Land of Israel, those in Israel toward Jerusalem, those in Jerusalem toward the Temple Mount, and those on the Temple Mount toward the Holy of Holies. The Shulchan Aruch O.C. 94:1 agreeing with most of the Rishonim brings this down as the Halacha.

In the Diaspora west of Israel, this often means facing roughly east—hence the term "Mizrach"—but the precise intent is always toward Jerusalem and the Temple, not strictly a cardinal direction. In homes, a decorative plaque called a Mizrach, often adorned with inscriptions like "From this side comes the spirit of life" or verses from Psalms, is hung on the eastern wall to mark this direction.

In synagogues worldwide, the orientation mostly follows the same principle. The Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark, containing the Torah scrolls) is placed on the wall facing Jerusalem, so the congregation prays toward it. In Europe and other areas west of Israel, this is typically the eastern wall, making "Mizrach" synonymous with the prayer direction. In locations north or south of Jerusalem, the orientation adjusts accordingly (southward from the north, northward from the south, etc.). This unified focus symbolizes Jewish unity, as all direct their prayers toward the same Holy focal point.

In archaeology, identifying ancient synagogues often relies on features like orientation toward Jerusalem. Many excavated synagogues from the Roman and Byzantine periods show the Aron or apse aligned toward Jerusalem, along with elements like benches along walls, mosaic floors with Jewish symbols (menorahs, Torah arks, zodiac motifs), and inscriptions in Hebrew or Aramaic. To distinguish a synagogue from a church or mosque, archaeologists look for: absence of Christian symbols (crosses, fish) or Islamic ones (mihrab niches facing Mecca).

Presence of Jewish ritual elements, such as mikva'ot (ritual baths) nearby, stone Torah shrines, or depictions avoiding human figures in ways consistent with Jewish norms (though some Byzantine synagogues feature figurative art).

Orientation: synagogues face Jerusalem, while churches often face east (toward the rising sun or symbolically toward paradise), and mosques face Mecca (qibla, southeast from Jerusalem).

These clues, combined with epigraphic evidence (inscriptions mentioning "synagogue" or Jewish donors), help confirm a site's identity.

A fascinating application arises at the Western Wall Plaza (also called the Kotel Plaza) in Jerusalem, Jews pray there facing the Western Wall, the surviving retaining wall of the Temple Mount (not part of the Temple itself). But why do worshippers face the wall straight ahead rather than slightly left (northward) toward the Even HaShtiya (Foundation Stone), traditionally identified as the spot beneath the Dome of the Rock where the Holy of Holies stood?

The Even HaShtiya is considered the site of the Holy of Holies in Jewish tradition and so if you are at the Wall, in the Plaza where should you face? Towards the Wall or Holy of Holies?

Approximate compass readings standing exactly at the wall range from 40 degrees at the northen end of the Plaza to 30 degrees at the southern end in the womens section at Barclays Gate.

So, what do you do? Face the Wall like everyone else or turn to the North East and pray towards the Holy of Holies, the Kodesh HaKedoshim? Maybe it's not so simple as there is the Talmudic injunction "Do not seperate yourselves from the community" Avot 2:4.

Ask your Rabbi, please tell us what he says in the comments section below.

Yoni