He was received by the rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who explained to him the sanctity of the site and its deep significance to the Jewish people throughout the generations as a place of prayer, hope, and unity.
During the visit, Rabbi Rabinowitz remarked on the special connection between the minister’s name, David, and the name of King David of Israel. The two read together the psalm “A Song of Ascents, of David” (Shir Hama’alot leDavid) from the Book of Psalms, praying for the minister’s success and for peace among nations and states.
At the end of the visit, the foreign minister wrote a personal note and placed it between the stones of the Wall. He then toured the new Gateway to Heaven exhibit recently opened to the public in the Western Wall Tunnels and concluded his visit to the Western Wall by signing the guest book with the words:
“Am Yisrael Chai!” – “The People of Israel Live!”
