The Western Wall Heritage Foundation

In the wake of the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel's Ministry of Religion began the arduous task of excavating the Western Wall from beneath a residential neighborhood in Jerusalem. The ministry created the Western Wall Heritage Foundation to continue and oversee this complex project, which took over 20 years and weighed the needs of religions, tourism, archaeology, science, religious law, and security.

Today, the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnels attract more than 4 million visitors each year, making it one of the country's most popular and culturally significant tourist attractions. The site holds significant religious and educational value, and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation organizes religious ceremonies at the site (including bar and bat mitzvahs) and offers guided informative tours for students, families, and other visitors. Further, the foundation developed and oversees the Western Wall Heritage Center, which serves as the headquarters for the organization and as an educational and informational hub for visitors from all over the globe.