The plaza in front of the Western Wall was filled this weekend with mourners who sat on mats and read lamentations for the destruction of the Second Temple. There were fewer people this year than last, perhaps due to the tight security measures taken by the police and the army. Strengthened patrols circled the plaza, manning the narrow alleys leading to it and the roofs overlooking it to avoid any terrorist attack.
The Tisha B’av events began last night with a half moon and bring floodlights drenching the Western Wall. Many thousands streamed into the area, including tourists and new immigrants from the Soviet Union. There was no entertainment events in the country last night.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
