Thousands Attend Priestly Blessing Ceremony at Western Wall

Tens of thousands of Israelis and visitors gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on the morning of September 28th for the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony, held during the Sukkot holiday. Hundreds of clergy ascended to the Western Wall to perform the ancient ritual and bless the attendees.

The event, which attracted a large crowd, was divided into two stages to manage visitor flow. The first blessing took place at 9:30 AM, with a second scheduled for 10:30 AM. The ceremony will continue on Thursday, October 1st.

Among the attendees were former hostages marking the anniversary of their return from Gaza, families of fallen soldiers, and wounded soldiers. The Chief Rabbis of Israel also participated in the prayers.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation had prepared extensively for the holiday, setting up three large sukkahs for visitors to observe Sukkot traditions. The foundation reported that approximately two million people visited the site in the previous month, leading to increased public transportation services to Jerusalem's city center.

The tradition of the mass Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall began after the Six-Day War, initiated by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gafner. This ritual has been observed annually during Passover and Sukkot, drawing worshippers from Israel and abroad. Festivities at the Western Wall will continue through the autumn holidays, concluding with traditional dancing on October 3rd.