Tens of Thousands Gather at Western Wall for Final Selichot Prayers
Tens of thousands of Israelis converged on the Western Wall Plaza on Saturday night for the final Selichot (penitential prayers) service preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Among the attendees were Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Netanyahu addressed the crowd, stating, "The masses of the people of Israel are here, expressing the great spirit of our people. We pray from here for the safety of our heroic IDF soldiers and security forces who protect us all and ensure the victory of Israel." He added that prayers were being offered for the soldiers and security personnel.
Also present were former hostages Rom Barslavsky, Ohad Ben Ami, and Elkana Bohbot. According to Channel 14 News, over the past month of Selichot services, the Western Wall Plaza has seen an estimated two million visitors, encompassing religious, ultra-Orthodox, and secular Jews.
Channel 14 reporter Yehuda Aharoni noted the significant turnout for the emotional prayer service, highlighting the participation of people from all walks of life.
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