It is absolutely forbidden to ascend or enter Har HaBayit in our times. The reason is that the Beit HaMikdash was built in precise areas of extreme holiness, including the Kodesh HaKodashim and other sacred zones, where entry is strictly prohibited without the proper state of ritual purity. Since today we are all considered tamei ritually impure. It is impossible to determine with certainty which areas are permitted and which are forbidden.

When visiting the Kotel, a person must approach with awe and reverence, for it is not merely a historical site but a place imbued with holiness. Our Sages teach that the Shechinah never departed from the Western Wall, and therefore it must be treated with the same respect as a Beit HaKnesset—and, in many ways, even more so. Out of this awareness, one should refrain from eating, drinking, or engaging in idle chatter in its vicinity, just as one would in a synagogue.

What days in the year is one exempt from tearing Keriah upon seeing the kotel? On certain days of the year, the obligation to perform keriah does not apply. There are also days on which the practice varies, with some following the custom to tear and others refraining.

Does one who live in Yerushalayim tear keriah when seeing the kotel? One who lives in Yerushalayim is not required to tear his garment when visiting the Kotel, even if thirty days have passed since his last visit. Similarly, someone who was born in Yerushalayim and has never left is exempt from keriah at the Kotel, even upon reaching bar mitzvah.

How Often Does One Tear Keriah When Seeing The Kotel? One is only obligated to tear his clothing if he has not seen the Kotel/Makom HaMikdash within the past thirty days.

Both men and women are equally obligated to perform keriah  (the act of tearing one’s garment)  upon seeing the Makom HaMikdash in its state of destruction and the Kotel. This obligation reflects the shared national mourning and connection to the Beit HaMikdash that transcends gender.

Strictly speaking, when tearing one’s clothing upon seeing the Kotel, one is required to tear all of his garments. However, the common custom is to tear only one garment. If a person does not wish to rip his jacket, he should remove it and tear only his shirt

Even in our times, one remains obligated to tear his clothing upon seeing the place where the Bet HaMikdash once stood. This mitzvah is a tangible expression of our mourning for its destruction and our longing for its rebuilding. The obligation applies when one sees the Dome of the Rock, which occupies the very location where the Bet HaMikdash once stood, as well as when one sees the Kotel.