Editing Western Wall (section)

===Transformation into worship area===
[[File:Jerusalem Western Wall BW 2.JPG|thumb|right|Torah Ark inside men's section of Wilson's Arch]]

In September 1983, U.S. Sixth Fleet Chaplain, Rabbi [[Arnold Resnicoff]] was allowed to hold an unusual interfaith service—the first interfaith service ever conducted at the Wall during the time it was under Israeli control—that included men and women sitting together. The ten-minute service included the [[Priestly Blessing]], recited by Resnicoff, who is a [[Kohen]]. A Ministry of Religions representative was present, responding to press queries that the service was authorized as part of a special welcome for the U.S. Sixth Fleet.<ref>''Jerusalem Post'', Sep 5, 1983, and ''Jerusalem Post'' International Edition, Sep 11–17, 1983, "U.S. Navy Chaplain Conducts Western Wall Interfaith Litany"</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/122901/news_pf/NorthPinellas/Lion__lamb_reside_in_.shtml ''St Petersburg Times''], retrieved March 25, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-day-in-1983-when-the-israeli-government-gave-its-blessing-to-a-mixed-gender-prayer-service-at-the-western-wall |title= The day Israel gave its blessing to egalitarian prayer at Western Wall |newspaper= Times of Israel}}</ref>

In 2005, the [[Western Wall Heritage Foundation]] initiated a major renovation effort under Rabbi-of-the-Wall [[Shmuel Rabinovitch]]. Its goal was to renovate and restructure the area within [[Wilson's Arch (Jerusalem)|Wilson's Arch]], the covered area to the left of worshipers facing the Wall in the open prayer plaza, in order to increase access for visitors and for prayer.<ref name= kotel>[http://english.thekotel.org/today/article.asp?ArticleID=3 English.thekotel.org TheKotel.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724161019/http://english.thekotel.org/today/article.asp?ArticleID=3 |date=July 24, 2011 }}, retrieved March 11, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/Projects_Item_eng.asp?id=49&subject_id=10&site_id=3 iaa-conservation.org], retrieved March 11, 2011.</ref>

The restoration of the men's section included a [[Torah ark]] that can house over 100 [[Torah scroll]]s, in addition to new bookshelves, a library, heating for the winter, and air conditioning for the summer.<ref name= kotel/> A new room was also built for the scribes who maintain and preserve the Torah scrolls used at the Wall.<ref name= kotel/> New construction also included a women's section,<ref>[http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=803&CatId=2 The Kotel, note about May 25, 2006.], retrieved March 11, 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724161100/http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=803&CatId=2 |date=July 24, 2011}}</ref> overlooking the men's prayer area, so that women could use this separate area to "take part in the services held inside under the Arch" for the first time.<ref>[http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=628&CatId=4 English.TheKotel.org], retrieved March 24, 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724161119/http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=628&CatId=4 |date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>

On July 25, 2010, a ''[[ner tamid]]'', an oil-burning "eternal light," was installed within the prayer hall within Wilson's Arch, the first eternal light installed in the area of the Western Wall.<ref name= ner>[http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=2715&CatId=4 Thekotel.org, note for July 25, 2010], retrieved March 12, 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724161214/http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=2715&CatId=4 |date= July 24, 2011}}</ref> According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, requests had been made for many years that "an olive oil lamp be placed in the prayer hall of the Western Wall Plaza, as is the custom in Jewish synagogues, to represent the menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the continuously burning fire on the altar of burnt offerings in front of the Temple," especially in the closest place to those ancient flames.<ref name= ner/>
[[File:USNAVY Kotel Service.jpg|thumb|Asst. U.S. Sixth Fleet Chaplain [[Arnold Resnicoff|Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff]] leads an unusual interfaith service]]

A number of special worship events have been held since the renovation. They have taken advantage of the cover, temperature control,<ref name= night>[http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=131&CatId=4 The Kotel.org, note on February 3, 2006.], retrieved March 13, 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160935/http://english.thekotel.org/today/Event.asp?EventId=131&CatId=4 |date= July 24, 2011}}</ref> and enhanced security.<ref name= pope>[http://english.thekotel.org/today/article.asp?ArticleID=80 TheKotel.org, Lag B'omer 2009], retrieved March 13, 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160944/http://english.thekotel.org/today/article.asp?ArticleID=80 |date= July 24, 2011}}</ref>