Beth Yeshua International completes prayer wall for Macon

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Macon rabbi has big dreams–he wants to unite everyone in prayer.

His first step? Build a place to pray in Macon.

This unique monument is located on Price Road.

It’s almost an exact replica of the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

It stands about 20 feet high and 50 feet wide.

Rabbi Greg Hershberg hopes people from all around the world will come to Middle Georgia to pray–hoping to bring peace.

“When you talk about prayer, it’s not a denominational thing–prayer,” said the Rabbi.

For Rabbi Greg, prayer unites.

“Everyone pretty much prays–there’s no atheist in a foxhole they say,” said the Rabbi.

And though walls usually divide, he’s hoping this one will bring people together.

“I know that walls don’t necessarily have the presence of God, but we’re hoping that God hears and is attentive to the prayers here.”

He cited Scripture as his inspiration.

“There’s three times it says in the scripture in Luke where Yeshua where Jesus you know he went away he went to the wilderness to pray, because you want to avoid distraction, and there’s no distractions here,” said the Rabbi.

This massive wall–nearly 20 feet high–is meant to be a place to pray.

It’s a story we first brought you in December, when the wall was just under construction.

“And we thought it was gonna be done quickly, but when you’re dealing with 5, 6 thousand pound blocks it’s not easy,” said the Rabbi. “So we needed to use a crane and a construction crew, and even getting an artist to replicate it wasn’t easy.”

Rabbi Greg is replicating the Western Wall–universally known as a place to pray in Jerusalem.

“You can take a piece of paper and write your prayer requests and then put it back in the box and then if they want to continue on they can come into this plaza area here. They can come up to the walls it’s very traditional,” said the Rabbi.

He wants his message to reach farther than just Macon.

“I believe that we need to have a wall like this–doesn’t have to be so elaborate, could be more elaborate, that’s not the issue, in each state in the United States of America,” said the Rabbi.

But for now, he’s happy to unite–not divide–in Macon.

“If we can do that, I feel that something’s going to change in the spiritual climate,” said the Rabbi. “I think that instead of being a thermometer and recording the temperature, we can be a thermostat and set the temperature.”