Celebrating Jerusalem Day – interview with Shlomo Tal, Western Wall Heritage Center

During an informative interview conducted at the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Center, Educational Content Director Shlomo Tal spoke with Christian journalist Paul Calvert about the deep historical and spiritual significance of Jerusalem Day.

This year’s celebrations at the Western Wall, marking 58 years since Jerusalem’s reunification in 1967, will feature programs centered on prayer, education and national unity amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The events are scheduled to begin at sundown on Sunday, May 25, in accordance with Jewish tradition. Evening prayers will be held and a massive 53-meter Israeli flag will be unfurled in the plaza in front of the Western Wall (HaKotel).

Thousands of people are expected to gather the next morning for a thanksgiving celebration.

“During the day, we have a very special broadcast to school students, so the kids get personally a little bit more connected for this day,” Tal shared.

Jerusalem Day is more than just a national holiday in Israel. For many it is a symbol of hope, freedom and fulfilled prophecy. Tal explained the return of the Western Wall in 1967 as being a miraculous moment.

“After the six-day war it was such a surprise and such a miracle that happened… touching the walls was a great experience. The most mature soldiers, the paratroopers… they all teared up, it was very touching,” he told Calvert.

For Tal, the celebration resonates far beyond Jewish identity. “I feel that this celebration is not only for us, for the Jewish people, it's actually the celebration for every person in the world who are desiring to be free, to return back home, to have their hopes to be fulfilled.”

Tal emphasized that the day’s prayers will focus on thanksgiving, peace and as a national expression of gratitude. They will be especially poignant in the current context of the ongoing war and the hostages. The location itself adds profound spiritual depth: “You pray about the heart from the place of the heart… My heart is opening up, so it's… a completely different thing, the prayer here, rather than in any other place in the world,” Tal added.

The Western Wall Heritage Center plays a pivotal role in preserving and conveying the enduring legacy of one of Judaism's most sacred sites. The educational and cultural facility was dedicated in November 2021 and offers a range of facilities, including classrooms designed to accommodate tour groups for lectures, workshops, and interactive learning experiences. The center also features archaeological exhibits that showcase artifacts and findings from the area, providing visitors with tangible connections to the past.

To hear more about the symbolism, history, and joyful celebration surrounding Jerusalem Day, click below to listen to Calvert's full interview with Shlomo Tal from the Western Wall Heritage Center.