Got a note for God? His inbox is empty

A worker removes notes from cracks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old city, as customary ahead of the Jewish new year August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - There's some room again in God's inbox.

Equipped with long sticks, a team of cleaners on Tuesday gouged out written prayers that visitors to Judaism’s Western Wall in Jerusalem traditionally cram into its crevices.

Twice a year, the Rabbi of the Western Wall oversees the collection of thousands of notes to ensure there’s always space for more. The papers are then buried on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives in accordance with ritual.

A worker removes notes from cracks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old city, as customary ahead of the Jewish new year August 28, 2018 REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The Western Wall is a remnant of the compound of the Second Temple that was destroyed in 70 AD. It stands today beneath a religious plaza known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount.

(Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Alison Williams)

A worker removes notes from cracks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old city, as customary ahead of the Jewish new year August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

A worker removes notes from cracks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old city, as customary ahead of the Jewish new year August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Workers remove notes from cracks at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old city, as customary ahead of the Jewish new year August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun