100,000 Attend Major Penitential Prayers at Western Wall

Approximately 100,000 people gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City overnight for a central penitential prayer service, known as "Slichot." The event, part of the Ten Days of Repentance leading up to Yom Kippur, saw massive crowds fill the plaza and surrounding areas.

Participants from across Israel joined the traditional prayers and liturgical poems, creating a powerful scene before the holy site. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported the large turnout, noting that these services are a significant part of the High Holy Days period.

The Slichot services at the Western Wall draw tens of thousands of attendees each year, with numbers increasing as Yom Kippur approaches. This year's central event attracted an estimated 100,000 people, making it one of the largest prayer gatherings in Israel during the Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur period.