150,000 Attend Final Selichot Service at Western Wall

Approximately 150,000 people gathered at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem on Saturday night for the final central Selichot (penitential prayers) service preceding Yom Kippur. The crowds filled the plaza, surrounding balconies, and nearby alleys in the Old City.

Notable attendees included the Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Yosef; Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar; Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife; Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion; government ministers; and other public figures.

Rabbi Rabinowitz stated that the Selichot services demonstrated that the Western Wall is "the beating heart of the Jewish people." He added, "From all corners of the earth and all parts of the people, crowds came here, people of all communities, opinions, and outlooks, and stood together as one man with one heart." He continued, "Together we prayed for the success of IDF soldiers, for the recovery of the wounded, for the comfort of the families, and for the peace and unity of the people of Israel."

Due to the large attendance, the service was broadcast live on giant screens at the Western Wall's periphery, on the walls of the Jaffa Gate, and in Zion Square, allowing more people to participate remotely.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that nearly two million people participated in Selichot services at the plaza throughout the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance. Attendees included Holocaust survivors, bereaved families, wounded IDF veterans, soldiers, security personnel, and the general public.

In parallel, the Foundation completed its preparations for Yom Kippur prayers at the Western Wall, anticipating thousands of worshippers throughout the fast. Peak attendance is expected for the concluding Neilah prayer and the final Shofar blast.