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Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem this morning (Tuesday) to participate in prayer and the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony, held during the intermediate days of Passover. The event, also attended by former hostage Eliya Cohen, marked a significant occasion for both religious and national reflection, as it took place against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing conflict.
The ceremony included the participation of Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rabbi Kalman Bar and Rabbi David Yosef, along with Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites. Thousands of priests and tens of thousands of worshippers were also in attendance. The event was broadcast live, courtesy of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.
A similar ceremony is planned for Wednesday, with expected attendees including former hostages, families of those still held captive by Hamas and IDF soldiers wounded during the ongoing war.
During the ceremony, participants prayed and received blessings twice — during the Shacharit and Musaf prayers — from the priests, who are descendants of the Tribe of Levi. The priestly blessing recited was: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His face upon you and grant you peace.”
In light of the ongoing conflict and the hope for the safe return of hostages, a special prayer for their return will follow the Musaf service. Additional prayers will be offered for the safety of IDF soldiers, the healing of the wounded, and for peace and unity among the people of Israel.
The ceremony will also feature a “Reception of the Rabbi on Foot” event, which will be attended by the Chief Rabbis of Israel and the Rabbi of the Western Wall. In addition to the prayers, the Western Wall tunnels will be open to the public during the intermediate days of Passover.
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The mass blessing at the Western Wall was first established during the War of Attrition in 1970 and has been held for over 50 years, both during Sukkot and Passover. The tradition was revived by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gefner, a Jerusalemite who, during one of his prayers at the Western Wall, was inspired by a Midrash describing the blessing’s power even during the time the Temple was destroyed. Gefner decided to reinstate the custom, which has become an annual tradition.