32. Kedusha. The Kosel stones which have been around since the time of the Beis HaMikdash have kedusha, since Har HaBayis has kedusha, and the thickness of the wall has the status of the area inside (קרית ספר הל' בית הבחירה פ''ה ). Also, they were built with the leftover money from the terumas halishka (ס' מקדש מלך, שו''ת אג''מ יו''ד ח''ד סי' ס''ג ). Additionally, the location is holy and directly faces the Gate to Shomayim, where the Shechina permanently dwells (משכנות לאביר יעקב, ס' הכותל המערבי פ''ו ). This is even if we assume the Kosel is one of the walls of Har HaBayis.
33. Using the Kosel stones. Due to their kedusha, one should be careful not to make personal use of the stones of the Kosel ( 'ס עיר הקודש והמקדש ח''ד עמ' ס''ז ), e.g., leaving sefarim or items in the cracks in the Kosel, hanging a cane between the stones [a Rebbe once inappropriately hung his silver cane there], or leaning on the Kosel without a mitzva-related need (עיר הקודש והמקדש שם ).
