Western Wall stones crumbling

VIDEO - A routine inspection of the Western Wall's stones has revealed that some of then are falling apart, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.

The stones in question, oddly enough, are those atop the upper wall – an addition built in the 19th century. The stones in the bottom of the wall, which date back to the days of the Second Temple, show no more than minor damage.

Video courtesy of infolive.tv  

Some simple maintenance work is all that is needed in order protect both the integrity of the stones and the safety of those praying at the wall; but since the Halacha prevents removing or changing any of the Wall's stones, scaffolding will be erected in the area while the damaged stone are reinforced – not an easy feat considering some of them are 42 feet wide and 11 feet tall.

"There is no immediate danger to the wall but the degraded stones must be taken care of," Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Western Wall rabbi, told Yedioth Ahronoth.

"The renovations will be done with the cooperation of the Israel Antiquities Authority and in accordance to the Halacha, after Passover," he added; "and further assessments will be made afterwards. I hope the work can be done on the exterior, so the Wall's plaza can be left undisturbed."