WATCH LIVE: Thousands attend Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall
Jews and non-Jews gather at the holy site to receive blessing from hundreds of priests wrapped in prayer shawls and recite the 'triple blessing.'
They came to be blessed at the holy site by the priests, descendents of the tribe of Levi, twice during the prayer services of Shaharit and Mussaf.
Opposite the worshippers stand hundreds of priests who cover themselves with their prayer shawls and recite the “triple blessing” which is written in the Torah. “May God bless and protect you, shine his face upon you and educate you and grant peace upon you.”
In Israel, the blessing is said during every morning service in which more than one priest participates. However, the days of Passover enable people to visit the Western Wall and receive a blessing from hundreds of priests simultaneously.
After the event, the chief rabbis of Israel, Rabbi David Lau and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, and Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch will receive the worshippers and give them blessings.
The area is heavily protected by dozens of policemen and Border Policemen, many of whom are volunteers, who are positioned along the path from Jaffa Gate.
The Old City has been closed off to vehicles for the event, and members of the public are asked to use public transportation to arrive at the Western Wall.
Hebron St. will be blocked Monday until 8pm from Miriam Hahasmonait all the way to the Old City, as well as Egron St. towards the Mamilla neighborhood and Hativat Yerushalyim St on both directions. Highway 1 will be blocked from the Police National Headquarters to the Old City.
