Thousands Gather at Western Wall for Priestly Blessing Ceremony
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Thousands attended the Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall during Sukkot.
- Prayers were offered for IDF soldiers, the wounded, and national unity.
- The ceremony included religious leaders, former hostages, and wounded soldiers.
- The event was split into two sessions to accommodate more participants.
- The Western Wall Heritage Foundation prepared for large crowds during the holiday.
The traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony is taking place at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem, drawing tens of thousands of worshippers during the Sukkot holiday. Prayers are being offered for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the unity of the Israeli people.
Among the attendees are the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, and the Mayor of Jerusalem. Also present are former hostages marking the anniversary of their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza, bereaved families, and IDF soldiers wounded during the "Swords of Iron" war.
The morning prayer began at 8:45 AM, with the first Priestly Blessing at 9:15 AM. The Musaf prayer commenced at 10:15 AM, followed by the second Priestly Blessing at 10:30 AM.
This year, the Priestly Blessing ceremony is being held on two separate occasions to allow broader public participation. The second ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 1st. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has prepared for hundreds of thousands of visitors during Sukkot, setting up three large, kosher sukkahs.
In the preceding month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance, the Western Wall Plaza saw nearly two million worshippers.
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