Tens of thousands gather at Western Wall for priestly blessings
Thousands of worshippers pack Jerusalem's Western Wall plaza to receive a blessing from members of Judaism's priestly caste; US ambassador to Israel Friedman: 'It's an opportunity to bless the people of Israel.'
Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem on Wednesday to receive a blessing from members of Judaism's priestly caste.
The priests, known as "Kohanim", were joined by US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.
"It's an opportunity to bless the people of Israel," Friedman, an Orthodox Jew, told reporters.
The Kohanim gathered and began chanting the Priestly Blessing.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you/ May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you/ May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace," the blessing reads.
The ceremony is held during the Sukkot holiday celebrated this week.
According to Jewish tradition, Kohanim are descendants of Aaron, Moses's brother, whose offspring served as priests in the biblical temple in Jerusalem.
Many Jews with surnames such as Cohen, Kahan and Katz are Kohanim.
