150,000 Attend Final Selichot Prayers at Western Wall

Approximately 150,000 worshippers gathered at the Western Wall Plaza and surrounding areas in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday night for the final Selichot service of the season, preceding Yom Kippur. The emotional service included the presence of hostages survivors, including Eli Cohen and Ziv Avod, along with Rom Barslavsky, Elkana Bohbot, and Ohad Ben Ami, who were met with enthusiastic applause.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, Chief Rabbis David Yosef and Kalman Meir Bar, Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinowitz, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon were among the dignitaries present. Prime Minister Netanyahu offered a prayer for the safety of IDF soldiers, security forces, and the state, while the Chief Rabbis led prayers for peace and unity.

Rabbi Rabinowitz addressed the crowd, stating, "This month has proven once again that the Western Wall is the beating heart of the Jewish people. From all corners of the earth and all segments of the people, masses arrived here, members of all communities, opinions, and outlooks, those who wear a kippah and those who do not, stood together as one man with one heart." He added, "From the sanctity and elevation of the Selichot services, we enter the new year with great hope: a year of healing and comfort, of victory and blessing, and above all, a year in which we remember that we are all one people, partners in one fate and one prayer."

Due to the large attendance, the event was broadcast live on giant screens in the Western Wall Plaza, on the walls of Jaffa Gate, and in Zion Square, facilitated by the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Development Authority.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that nearly two million worshippers visited the Western Wall during the month of Elul, encompassing all sectors of Israeli society, including hostage survivors, bereaved families, wounded soldiers, and security personnel. The foundation has completed its preparations for Yom Kippur services, anticipating thousands of attendees, with the concluding Neilah prayer and Shofar blowing expected to be the peak of the day.