- [Julie] Prior to the worldwide pandemic,

some 12 million people visitedthe Western Wall each year.

Many tucked prayer notesbetween the ancient stones

but this year was different.

(speaking in foreign language)

- [Interpreter] We have herenotes from all over the world.

Many are sent by technical means

because this yearresidents of the diaspora

can't make it to theWestern Wall to pray here.

- Since the outbreak of the pandemic,

the Western Wall Heritage Foundation

received more than 91,000notes on its website,

including from the US, Europe

and even from Jordan and the UAE.

The Western Wall behindme is the retaining wall

of the Second Temple from 2,000 years ago.

When King Solomon built the first temple,

God said his eyes and heart

would always be on this place.

That's why traditionally, Jewsand people of other faiths

put their prayers in the Western Wall.

Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz says

this year they received many requests

from children living around the Gaza strip

during Israel's 11-day war with Hamas.

So what happens whenthose cracks get too full?

Twice a year, the prayerslips are removed.

Workers collect thenotes with wooden sticks,

bundle them in bags

and later bury them in the cemetery

on the Mount of Olives.

According to Jewish religious practice,

it's forbidden to destroy anything

on which the name of God is written.

That means these little prayer slips

are treated with the same respect

as damaged or worn Torahscrolls and prayer books.

Rabinowitz says no one reads the papers

because they're notesbetween man and his Creator.

But they pray that Godanswers the requests,

and this year, they're praying

that God would remove the COVID pandemic

from Israel and the world.

Julie Stahl, CBN News, theWestern Wall, Jerusalem.