Direct: The Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall (Photo: Western Wall Heritage Foundation)
LIVE
Thousands of worshippers are expected to participate Monday morning in the traditional "Priestly Blessing" at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The mass prayer, recited twice by the priests at morning and supplement prayers, will be held this year this morning and again on Wednesday in order to ease the crowd load.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of people, ultra-Orthodox, religious and secular, as well as non-Jewish tourists, will take part in the blessing ceremony. It will also be attended by Chief Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, other rabbis and public figures.
The well-known prayer was founded at the Western Wall more than 40 years ago. It is held annually on the second day of Chol Hamoed, Passover and Sukkot, in order to allow Jews from abroad who observe the second holiday to take part, and in which the priests raise their hands and bless the masses who come with the triple blessing written in the Torah: "God bless you and preserve you, may the Lord look to you and educate you, may the Lord look to you and grant you peace."
Priestly Blessing, Sukkot, Western Wall, October 12, 2022/Flash 90, Olivier Fitoussi
Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall, April 20, 2022/Flash 90, Olivier Fitoussi
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation asked the public who intend to attend the first blessing ceremony this morning not to attend the ceremony on Wednesday as well, so that all those interested in attending the event will be allowed to participate. In addition, they noted that the entrances to the Old City and the Western Wall will be closed if congestion is created, and that the public must obey the instructions of the ushers for the safety of Western Wall visitors.
- More on the subject:
- Western Wall
- Priestly Blessing
- High Holidays