Thousands Attend Priestly Blessing Ceremony at Western Wall

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

The ceremony concluded with prayers for the safety of IDF soldiers, led by Defense Minister Israel Katz, and prayers for the recovery of the sick and wounded, delivered by Chief Rabbi Kalman Bar. This year's event was particularly poignant, as former hostages were invited to participate, a year after the holiday prayers were dedicated to the return of hostages held by Hamas.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation prepared three kosher sukkahs to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of worshippers expected during the holiday. The priests offered blessings twice daily, during the morning and additional (Musaf) prayers. Following the Musaf prayer, a collective prayer was recited for the security forces, the wounded, and the unity and security of the Israeli people.

Bereaved families and IDF soldiers wounded during the "Swords of Iron" war were also invited to the event. Former hostage Bar Kupferstein attended the ceremony.

The mass Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall tradition began 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, who recalled a Midrash describing the blessing's efficacy even after the destruction of the Second Temple.