Keys to the Kingdom By Chava Burstein | July 13, 2021
This is a story about an old iron key that opened the gate to the Western Wall
It was June 7, 1967, and there they stood, in front of the locked, looming gate — these battle-weary soldiers who suddenly found themselves leading the way to liberating the Kosel. The abandoned Wall loomed up just on the other side of the gate, but although they’d come this far, it was out of reach. They tried to move the heavy iron handle, but the gate wouldn’t give. Should they break through by force?
And suddenly, out of nowhere, there he was — an ancient Arab with a huge key hanging from a rubber string under his robe. “Here, open it,” said the mysterious Arab, who vanished just as suddenly as he had appeared. The key was inserted into the lock. The gate swung open. The way to the Kosel was clear.