Thousands Recite Psalms of Thanksgiving at Western Wall After Flydubai Rescue

Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday for the traditional priestly blessing ceremony during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. The ceremony, which also took place on Monday, concluded with participants reciting "Mizmor L'Toda" (Psalm 100) as an expression of gratitude for the averted disaster on a Flydubai flight.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, addressed the crowd, stating, "We witnessed a great miracle. If the Temple were standing, we would be offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving today." He also referenced the release of hostages a year prior on Hoshana Rabbah, emphasizing that "God performs miracles for us."

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation erected three kosher sukkahs to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected during the holiday. Worshippers received the priestly blessing twice, during the morning and additional services. Following the prayers, a special supplication was recited 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.

The mass priestly blessing at the Western Wall 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 of Jerusalem, who recalled a Midrash describing the efficacy of the priestly blessing even after the destruction of the Temple.