Forward.com

What Happens at the Kotel Doesn’t Stay at the Kotel

An Israeli newspaper has published what apparently is a photo of the note that Barack Obama placed in the Western Wall during his visit Wednesday. The Israeli tabloid Ma’ariv reports that the note — written on stationary from Jerusalem’s King David hotel, where Obama was staying — was taken from the wall and given to the newspaper by a yeshiva student.

The text of the note:

Lord,

Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair.

Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just.

And make me an instrument of your will.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Western Wall’s rabbi has condemned Ma’ariv’s action.

Hat tip: Politico

UPDATE: The yeshiva student who removed Obama’s note has apologized, and the note has been returned to the wall.

Western Walls Aplenty

News from Sotheby’s London is that the it will auction “The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem,” by German-born Jewish artist Gustav Bauernfeind. The estimate given in the press release is £600,000-800,000. It’s the latest in a line of pictorial depictions of the site to hit the auction block, as Jeannie Rosenfeld reported last month. And, compared to Vasili Vereshchagin’s “Solomon’s Wall” — sold by rival house Christie’s for $3,624,000 — the Bauernfeind looks almost like a steal.