Tens of Thousands Attend Yom Kippur Eve Prayers at Western Wall

Hundreds of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for the central Selichot (penitential prayers) service on the eve of Yom Kippur. Estimates suggest around 150,000 people attended the overnight prayers. Among the attendees were released hostages, including Eliya Cohen and her partner Ziv Abud, along with Rom Barslavsky, Elkana Bohbot, and Ohad Ben Ami.

In an unusual appearance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife attended the prayers, observing from a separate, protected area overlooking the plaza. The Prime Minister, alongside the Chief Rabbis and the Mayor of Jerusalem, offered a prayer for the safety of IDF soldiers, security forces, and the state.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that nearly two million people visited the Western Wall throughout the month of Elul, the preceding month of repentance and forgiveness. These visitors represented a wide spectrum of Israeli society, including former hostages, bereaved families, wounded soldiers, and security personnel, all uniting in prayer for the Jewish people.