150,000 Attend Final Selichot Prayers at Western Wall

Approximately 150,000 worshippers gathered at the Western Wall Plaza on Saturday night for the final and most significant Selichot (penitential prayers) service of the year, marking the culmination of the traditional Selichot period. The event, which began in the early evening, reached its peak with a large congregation filling the plaza, balconies, and surrounding alleys in Jerusalem's Old City.

The service was attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, Chief Rabbis of Israel David Yosef and Kalman Bar, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites Shmuel Rabinowitz, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, along with other dignitaries and a large public audience. Several survivors of the Nova music festival massacre and the October 7th attacks, including Ohad Ben Ami, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Barslavsky, Eliya Cohen, and Ziv Avod, were present and honored by the crowd.

Prime Minister Netanyahu offered a prayer for the safety of IDF soldiers, security forces, and the state. The Chief Rabbis led prayers for peace and unity among the Jewish people. Rabbi Rabinowitz stated that the Western Wall "is the beating heart of the Jewish people," emphasizing the unity of attendees from all backgrounds.

Due to the massive turnout, the service was broadcast live on large screens throughout the Old City and in other public areas to accommodate the vast number of people. The Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Development Authority facilitated the broadcast.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that nearly two million worshippers visited the Western Wall during the entire month of Elul and the Selichot period, representing a broad spectrum of Israeli society, including survivors, bereaved families, wounded soldiers, and security personnel. The foundation has also completed preparations for Yom Kippur services at the Western Wall, anticipating thousands of participants, especially for the concluding Neilah prayer and Shofar blast.