Science vs. religion on Western Wall work

JERUSALEM, April 15 (UPI) -- Repairing stones added to Jerusalem's Western Wall in the 1800s pits science against religion since Jewish law forbids removing any stones, scholars say.

Stones added to the Western Wall, which dates back to the sixth century B.C., have started to disintegrate, posing a challenge to Jewish scholars to keep the holy site open and repair it while observing Halacha, or Jewish religious law, The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the rabbi of the Western Wall, said scheduled repairs will begin after the seven-day Passover holiday, commemorating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The holiday begins Saturday night.

Engineers said Monday visitors to the wall face no danger from falling stones. Israeli archaeologist and antiquities authorities said scaffolding would protect visitors while engineers work on repairs.