Thousands Attend Priestly Blessing Ceremony at Western Wall

Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall plaza on Monday morning for the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. This was the first of two such ceremonies scheduled for the holiday, with another planned for Tuesday.

The prayer service included the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, the Mayor of Jerusalem, survivors of captivity, and bereaved families, alongside tens of thousands of congregants seeking blessings.

The Priestly Blessing, known as Birkat Kohanim, is a ritual performed by descendants of the priestly caste (Kohanim) who bless the assembled Jewish people. It is traditionally held on specific occasions, including during the Passover and Sukkot festivals, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.