Israeli Foreign Ministry will fly Western Wall stone to 2025 World Expo in Japan

Israel's Foreign Ministry is preparing to transport a stone from the Western Wall in Jerusalem to the 2025 World Expo in Japan. 

The move is intended to showcase the nation's ancient heritage together with modern Israeli innovation. 

The World Expo, set to take place in Osaka, Japan, is anticipated to attract approximately 28 million visitors over its six-month duration. A total of 158 countries will participate in this year’s event which opens on April 13. While most attendees are expected to be from Japan, around 5 million visitors are projected to travel from other countries worldwide.

The stone will be removed from a section of the Wall on the southern side, with the Israel Antiquities Authority overseeing its removal and transfer. According to a Ynet News report, the round-trip transport is estimated to cost $32,525.

Japan began construction on the site of the World Expo in 2023, two years before the event’s opening. An Israeli team has already been to the site to prepare for the nation’s exhibit. 

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, along with the Israel Embassy in Tokyo, has been working on the exhibit as a showcase of Jewish tradition alongside high-tech innovation and Israeli entrepreneurship. The Israeli embassy noted the people of Japan have a strong appreciation for Israel’s rich Jewish tradition and its ancient history. 

The Israeli delegation will provide a wide range of exhibits, including seminars on technology and innovation, education, and healthcare. The exhibit will host events sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and the Economy Ministry. There will also be performances by Israeli musicians and visual artists. 

Initially, Israel had decided not to participate in the Expo due to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas invasion and ensuing war in Gaza. However, following strong advocacy from the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli embassy in Japan, the decision was reversed and plans were made to set up a pavilion, recognizing the political significance of the event.

Moving stones from the Temple Mount is extremely rare, given the deep religious and historical significance of the site for Jews and Christians. The last time a stone from the Western Wall was removed from the country was for an exhibition in the United States five years ago.

The Western Wall, also known as the Kotel, is one of the few remaining structures from the Second Temple, which stood as the spiritual and cultural center of Jewish life until its destruction by the Romans in 70 C.E. The Wall is revered as one of the holiest sites in Judaism, as it is the closest accessible point to the site of the ancient Temple’s Holy of Holies, where the Divine Presence is believed to have dwelled. Today, it serves as a place of prayer and pilgrimage for Jews from around the world.