Thousands Attend Priestly Blessing Ceremony at Western Wall

Thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem on Sunday for the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony, held as part of the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. A similar event is scheduled for Thursday, October 1.

This year's ceremony follows last year's, which was dedicated to the return of hostages held during the war. This year, former hostages were invited to participate in the Jerusalem event. The Chief Rabbis, public figures, cantors, and liturgical poets are in attendance.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has erected three kosher sukkahs to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of worshippers expected at the Western Wall during the holiday. Participants will receive the priestly blessing twice, during the morning and additional services. Following the additional service, a prayer for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the unity and security of the Israeli people will be recited.

Families of fallen soldiers and soldiers wounded during Operation "Swords of Iron" (the current war) have also been invited to the ceremony. The mass Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall tradition was established in 1970 during the War of Attrition and has been held annually during Sukkot and Passover. The custom was revived by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gafner, a Jerusalemite, who recalled a Midrash describing the power of the Priestly Blessing even after the destruction of the Temple and decided to reinstate it.