Thousands Attend First Selichot Prayer at Western Wall Plaza Marking Month of Mercy

On Saturday night, marking the beginning of the month of mercy and Selichot prayers for the Hebrew year 5786, thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem for the traditional Selichot service. The event featured the sounding of the shofar and heartfelt prayers led by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites. Rabbi Rabinovitch called for unity among the people of Israel, prayed for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces, and for peace and security in Israel.

The next major Selichot event at the Western Wall Plaza is scheduled for Thursday night, August 20, 2025 (7th of Elul), at 12:15 AM, where thousands are expected to participate once again. The event is organized by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which also provided photographs of the prayers and shofar blowing during the service.