Tens of Thousands Gather at Western Wall for Final Selichot Prayers Before Yom Kippur
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Tens of thousands of worshippers attended a final Selichot prayer service at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday night, hours before the Yom Kippur fast. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the attendees, which also included released hostages.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Tens of thousands prayed at the Western Wall before Yom Kippur.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu attended the final Selichot service.
- Released hostages were among the worshippers.
- The event marked the peak of penitential prayers.
Tens of thousands of worshippers converged on the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday night for the final Selichot (penitential prayers) service ahead of the Yom Kippur fast. This gathering marked the peak of the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance, which fall between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the ceremony. Among the attendees were several hostages released from captivity, including Elkana Buchbut and Ohad Ben Ami. The prayers were led by cantors and liturgical poets, who recited piyyutim (liturgical poems) and the "Thirteen Attributes of Mercy," a passage recited to express God's compassion.
The Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall led prayers for the safety of IDF soldiers and for Israel's security. This event was the largest of approximately 20 mass Selichot events held at the Western Wall recently, which also saw participation from President Isaac Herzog and other public figures.
