(Western Wall Heritage Foundation)
Thousands gathered for the traditional Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) at the Western Wall on Thursday morning.
All joined in prayer for the return of the hostages, for the well-being of the IDF soldiers and security forces, for the healing of the wounded, and for peace for the people of Israel. During the ceremony, Psalms of thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude were recited.
The blessing, a Jewish prayer recited by Kohanim (Jewish priests in direct patrilineal descent from Aaron), is regularly performed during Chol HaMoed Pesach (the intermediate days of Passover) and in Sukkot.
Police closed the primary routes to Jerusalem's Old City, with the exception of local residents' vehicles. Thousands of officers from the Jerusalem Police, Border Police, and reinforcement units, as well as volunteers, were stationed throughout the area, particularly on roads leading to the Western Wall. Their mission was to ensure the safety of the many worshipers and visitors who will be attending religious services and visiting the site. Access to the Old City and the Western Wall may be restricted in case of overcrowding.
Tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers have not let the recent tensions deter them from flooding the alleyways of the Old City under tight security, to receive the blessing of the Kohanim, the descendants of the Levi tribe - during both the Shacharit prayer and the Mussaf prayer.
Facing the mass of worshipers, stood hundreds of Kohanim, covering their faces with prayer shawl and performing the blessing: "May the LORD bless you and guard you / May the LORD make His face shed light upon you and be gracious unto you / May the LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace."
The blessing is performed every morning every day of the year in any prayer that has at least one Kohen, but the Chol HaMoed period presents a rare opportunity to be blessed by so many Kohanim at the same time.
The mass prayer at the Western Wall, which started during the War of Attrition (in 1970) has been taking place for over 50 years - twice a year.
The custom was brought back by Jerusalem resident Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gafner. During one of his prayers at the Western Wall, Gafner remembered a midrash (talmudic legend) that describes the unique nature of the priestly blessing, even after the destruction of the Temple - and decided to restore the ritual to its former glory.
His grandson, Rabbi Baruch Brandwein, says that ever since the ritual was restored, over 100 mass events of the Priestly Blessing took place in the Western Wall.
First published: 08:27, 04.25.24