Springs' version of Wailing Wall opening to public Friday

The Western Wall of Israel has arrived in Colorado Springs.

Sort of.

Every Home for Christ, headquarters for evangelizing missions in more than 100 countries, has constructed a replica of the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, and is unveiling it to the public on Friday. (See details below.)

“We hope the wall will encourage people to spend time in prayer for all nations,” said spokeswoman Mischa Chernick.

The 1,000-square-foot replica sits in an 8,000-square-foot, 350-seat auditorium that is being used to train missionaries and teach about prayer. The replica and auditorium project cost about $2.3 million and was financed through donations.

The wall’s stones, taken from a quarry near Jerusalem, are cut to 1/20th of actual size. Slits between them enable visitors to place prayer requests in the wall, as Jews do at the real wall. Each year, the local requests will be taken to Israel and placed in the Western Wall, Chernick said.

Besides being smaller than the real wall, the replica differs from it in other ways, as well. It has stone stairways, an upper walkway and 13 prayer rooms, while the real thing doesn’t.

Dick Eastman, president of Every Home for Christ, came up with the replica idea to signify Christians’ love of Israel. But during development, the wall’s theme became a more universal message about prayer. Murray Hiebert, the organization’s director of prayer, said the wall is “a symbolic nod to Israel,” but those who visit it are encouraged to pray however they want and for any nation they want.

“We believe in the power of prayer,” Hiebert said.

IF YOU  GO: Every Home for Christ’s Western Wall
When: Previews are 6 to 8 p.m. today, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Today’s event features worship music and speakers. Registration to attend the Saturday and Sunday previews is required. Call 260-8888. Beginning Monday, the wall will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
Where: Every Home for Christ, 640 Chapel Hills Drive
Cost: free
More information: 260-8888

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Call the writer at 636-0367