The Book of Esther records one of the first attempts to destroy the people of Israel in the third year of Ahasuerus, a king of Persia in 486-465 BCE.  Traditionally read during the Purim Festival, the Book of Esther tells how Esther (Hadassah in Hebrew) thwarted Haman, the King's Prime Minister, in his plan to kill all the Jews. Esther is a reminder to each of us, that when you live your life pleasing to God, by obeying His will, you will find favor with Him.  God will also find favor with your people.  Just as Esther was chosen for such as time in History, you also may be chosen for such a time!  (Esther 4:14)

The Western Wall, the last remaining portion of King Solomon's Temple and the most holy place to Jews around the world.  These massive stones have witnessed, over the centuries, many momentous events, have been controlled by many nations until, finally, in 1967, the Wall was returned to its builders – the Jewish People.  Aside from the historical significance of the wall, another attraction to the wall stems from the perception of the wall as an appropriate metaphor for the struggle of survival of the Jewish people themselves. For just as the Jewish peoples' existence has been endangered over the course of history, the wall's existence has been threatened as well. The Romans burned the entire Temple but inexplicably left the outer wall unscathed. Remarkably, the wall still exists and just as remarkably so do the Jews. Today, millions of visitors from every nation come to pray at the Wailing Wall and to experience the Divine Presence that continues to touch the lives of all who seek to be touched by God in this very special location.

The Wall, the last surviving segment of Solomon's glorious Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans before they expelled the Jews from the Land of Israel.  For over 2000 years, Jews around the world have prayed to Jerusalem and the Western Wall.

The clenched signifies strength and determination.  Over the millennia, wherever they have been, the Jewish people have been persecuted. The Roman's exiled us from the Land of Israel, the Spanish Inquisition drove the Jews from Spain and Portugal, across Europe Jews were persecuted because of their faith, the Nazi's brutally murdered more than 6,000,000 Jews during the Holocaust and, since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948,  our enemies have never stopped in the determination and efforts to destroy.  For Jews, the clenched fist against the Star of David send a message to those who sought to destroy us in the past and those who seek to destroy us today that we shall not give in, that we are strong, will remain strong and will not allow ourselves to be exiled or slaughtered as in the past.  

After the Great Flood, God commanded Noah to send forth a dove to seek out dry land.  According to tradition, the dove eventually returned carrying an olive branch – thus signifying that the Great Flood was over.  Over the ages, the dove and the olive branch have become a symbol of peace between men and nations.  It is also a symbol that symbolizes the State of Israel and the return of the Jewish People to their homeland after 2000 years of exile. 

A soldier standing in front of the Western Wall means something - pride. Every soldier knows that his mission stands above all else and when you see a soldier praying in front of the western wall before leaving for a mission to protect the people of Israel your heart fill’s with pride.