1. Moshe Rabbeinu. We find that Moshe Rabbeinu davened 515 tefillos – the gematria of ואתחנן – to be zocheh to enter Eretz Yisroel, as Eretz Yisroel is holier than all other lands (כלים פ''א מ''ו, רמב''ם בית הבחירה פ''ז הי''ב ). The posuk says (פ' ואתחנן ג', כ''ה ), “אעברה נא ואראה את הארץ הטובה אשר בעבר הירדן ההר הטוב הזה והלבנון ”; Rashi explains that “ההר הטוב refers to Yerushalayim, while הלבנון refers to the Beis HaMikdash. I.e., Moshe had a great desire to enter Eretz Yisroel, Yerushalayim, and the Beis HaMikdash.
2. In golus. In these days after Tishah b’Av, much yearning and longing is aroused for the Beis HaMikdash to be built and Moshiach to come. The nation is comforted by the fact that Hashem will build the third Beis HaMikdash, and we hope it will happen speedily. As we lain in the first of the series of seven Haftaros of comfort, “נחמו נחמו עמי יאמר אלוקיכם, דברו על לב ירושלים וקראו אליה וכו'.”
3. Chazal tell us (גמ' סוטה דף ט' ע''א ) that had Moshe Rabbeinu entered Eretz Yisroel and built the Beis HaMikdash, it would not have been able to be destroyed, as the enemy has no power over Moshe’s handiwork. We would have been zocheh right away to the world’s state of tikkun. If Moshe had davened just one more tefilla, he would have entered Eretz Yisroel and the Beis HaMikdash would have never been destroyed. However, Hashem’s will was for Moshe to not enter Eretz Yisroel, and due to our sins, we were exiled from our Land and sent far away from its ground. All we have is a remnant of our Beis HaMikdash.
4. Tefilla by the site of the Beis HaMikdash. Since we were exiled, Klal Yisroel has yearned to come near our Beis HaMikdash to prostrate ourselves and daven. For hundreds of years, the Kosel Maaravi has been revealed and has served as the focal point for tefilla, for the Shechina will never leave the Kosel, as the posuk says (שיר השירים ב', ט'), “הנה זה עומד אחר כתלנו .” Whether it is in ruins or not, the Shechinah does not leave its place, as the posuk says, “ה' בהיכל קדשו” (מדרש שמות רבה פ' ב').
5. Place of tefilla. From time immemorial – even in the days of the holy Avos – this spot has been a place for tefilla, as the posuk says (בראשית כ''ח, י''ז ), “מה נורא המקום הזה, אין זה כי אם בית אלקים וזה שער השמים .” Rashi explains it is a place from where tefilla goes up to Shomayim. There is a tradition through the generations that a tefilla said there does not come back unanswered (טוב ירושלים ).
