This custom of sticking one’s note to G-d into the Western Wall stones’ crevices, is widely practiced by native Israelis as well as visitors coming from all over the world to pray at the Wall. This wall- the last remaining remnant from the Second Holy Temple, is located at the holiest place on earth– a place of which the Talmud promises that G-d’s presence will never abandon, no matter what. It is important to remember that we are not praying to the wall itself, of course, but rather to G-d.

If you come visit the Western Wall, no matter at what time of day- you will see many people praying, and you’ll probably see someone step up to the wall and search (sometimes it takes a few minutes) for a vacant centimeter of space in which to place his crumpled-up note.

Placing a note in the Wall isn’t better than praying, it’s just a different way to do the same thing. Some people prefer to verbalize their prayer, while others prefer to pray to G-d via this note placed in the cracks of the Wall. And of course, some people do both.