The class was split this year into two days on the Sabbath, so as not to create congestion and allow corona guidelines to be observed and mass contagion prevented • Police deployed forces in the Old City to secure the event • Last year the class was held in the presence of only 10 priests • Join the broadcast from the exciting class
At this time (Monday), the traditional priestly blessing of the Passover holiday is held in the Western Wall plaza.
This year, due to the corona regulations and in order to prevent mass infection, it was decided for the first time since the custom of the priests' blessing began to split it into two different dates: today (Monday, 16 Nissan, 29.3.21) and tomorrow (Tuesday, 17 Nissan, 30.3.21) .
Join the live broadcast from the Western Wall plaza:
Photo: Yoni Rickner
Prayer times:
• Morning prayer: 8:45
• First priests 'blessing (Shacharit): 9:15
• Additional prayer: 10:10
• Second priests' blessing (additional): 10:15
The police said that the commander of the Jerusalem district, Doron Turgeman, is conducting a reconnaissance patrol and is deploying forces to prepare for the Birkat Cohanim that will take place today at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
As will be recalled, last Passover a limited and unusual priestly blessing event was held due to the corona guidelines, with the participation of ten priests from the residents of the Jewish Quarter only.
For the first time since the outbreak of the corona, priests from around the country will be allowed to participate in the traditional event according to the instructions and bless the people of Israel, in an exciting state of unity and confession to God for the improvement we are witnessing these days.
In order to meet the expectations of the general public from all over the country for this special status and to hold in view of the congregational restrictions, it was decided that this year the traditional priests' blessing will be split into two different classes, which will take place day after day, to allow the public to reach the Western Wall.
This year, too, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef and Rabbi David Lau, Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Places Shmuel Rabinovich, Minister of Religion Rabbi Yaakov Avitan and Mayor of Jerusalem Mr. Moshe Leon will be honored with their participation in the two classes of Chief Rabbis of Israel.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation asks the public who are expected to attend the first Priestly Blessing on Monday, not to attend the Tuesday as well - in order to enable anyone interested in taking part in the event to be able to attend the Priests' Blessing this year.
Every year on weekdays, the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony is held in the Western Wall plaza, with the participation of thousands of priests, worshipers and visitors from all over the country and the world.
The Birkat HaCohanim class began about a year ago in 1931, and has been held continuously since the weekdays of Pesach and Sukkot, where hundreds of priests greet the congregation with a special blessing from the Torah and to which tens of thousands of participants flock.