Tearing Keriah at the Kosel

Question: I once heard that one can avoid tearing keriah at the kosel by visiting on a Friday. Is this correct?

Answer: Rambam (Taanis 5:16; Aveilus 9:10) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 561:2) rule that upon witnessing ‘Yerushalayim in its state of destruction’, one should recite the verse ‘Zion has become a desolate wilderness’ and tear keriah. When seeing the actual site of the Beis Hamikdash, one tears keriah again, while reciting, “Our holy and glorious House, where our forefathers praised You, has been consumed by fire, and all that we held dear has been laid waste.”

The Mishna Berura (561:2) explains that Yerushalayim is only considered ‘in a state of destrution’ when under foreign rule. Accordingly, R’ Moshe Feinstein writes (Igros Moshe OC 4:70:11) that since Yerushalayim is now under Jewish sovereignty, there is no obligation to tear keriah upon seeing the city. However, one is still required to tear upon seeing the Har Habayis itself.

R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:331) notes that it is preferable to view the actual ground of the Har Habayis, rather than merely the surrounding structures, in order to fulfil the halacha properly (see Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 16:n15).

The Chazon Ish (cited in Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:334) and R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 3:52) criticised the practice of those who avoided tearing keria on Friday afternoon, saying that there was no source for this. While one already wearing Shabbos clothes at the time is indeed exempt, they would still be obligated to tear keriah upon a subsequent visit in weekday clothing (see Minchas Shlomo 1:73).

Others attempt to circumvent the halacha by temporarily “selling” their shirt to someone else. R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 7:78) disapproves of such tactics, stressing the importance and seriousness of this halacha.

In conclusion, one is obligated to tear keriah upon seeing the Har Habayis. If the initial visit occurs on Shabbos, or whilst wearing Shabbos clothing immediately before or after Shabbos, the obligation does not apply at that time. However, keriah may still be required on a subsequent visit when those conditions no longer apply.

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