Tens of thousands expected at the Western Wall: The Priestly Blessing ceremony will take place this morning in Jerusalem
Hundreds of priests and tens of thousands of worshipers are expected to participate in the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony at the Western Wall Plaza during the intermediate days of Sukkot. Morning prayer will begin at 8:45 AM, the first Priestly Blessing at 9:30 AM, and the second at 10:30 AM. Participants include hostages' families, bereaved families, and wounded IDF soldiers. An additional ceremony will be held on Thursday.
Hundreds of priests and tens of thousands of worshipers are expected to arrive this morning (Monday) at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem for the traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony of the intermediate days of Sukkot. According to the official schedule of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, morning prayer will begin at 8:45 AM, the first Priestly Blessing will take place at 9:30 AM, the Musaf prayer at 10:15 AM, and the second Priestly Blessing at 10:30 AM. This year, the ceremony is being held on two separate dates: the first today, and the second on Thursday, Tishrei 20, October 1, at the same times. The split is intended to allow the general public to participate. Expected participants include hostages' families marking one year since their release from Hamas captivity, bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers, and the Chief Rabbis of Israel. Ahead of the holiday, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation prepared to receive hundreds of thousands of visitors, and three central sukkahs were set up in the Western Wall Plaza. During the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance, about two million worshipers arrived at the site. The mass tradition was established after the Six-Day War at the initiative of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gefner. On the night after Simchat Torah, October 3, the traditional second hakafot will take place starting at 10:00 PM.