They wrote “Tens of thousands attend annual 'Priestly Blessing' ceremony”
They were overwhelmed by the attendees! BUT THE REAL NUMBER WAS 80,000
Freed Hostage, Bereaved Families Join Emotional Tefillos [VIDEO & PHOTOS]
Approximately 80,000 mispallelim packed the Kosel plaza Monday morning for the first Birchas Kohanim of Sukkos 5787, joining hundreds of Kohanim for the massive annual Chol Hamoed gathering.
According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, approximately a quarter-million people have already visited the Kosel over the course of Sukkos.
The traditional Birchas Kohanim gathering has been held for 56 years, dating back to its establishment by HaRav Menachem Mendel Gefner ZT”L. The event is organized each Chol Hamoed Pesach and Sukkos by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.
Among those participating Monday were Sephardic Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Dovid Yosef, Chief Rabbi HaRav Kalman Ber, Kosel Rabbi HaRav Shmuel Rabinowitz, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister Yitzchak Wasserlauf, Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion, Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, freed hostage Bar Kuperstein, and numerous other rabbanim, public officials and dignitaries.
Rav Rabinowitz led the tefillos as shaliach tzibbur.
Defense Minister Katz, who is a Kohen, joined the hundreds of Kohanim in Birchas Kohanim and later offered a special tefillah for the safety and success of IDF soldiers and Israel’s security forces.
Following davening, a traditional Kabbalas Pnei Rabbo B’Regel was held with the Chief Rabbis and the Rav of the Kosel, with thousands passing before the rabbanim to receive their brachos for Yom Tov.
Particularly emotional moments unfolded during the gathering as freed hostage Bar Kuperstein joined the massive crowd in tefillas hoda’ah marking the return of the hostages one year ago.
Also participating was Motti Wieder, whose son, Staff Sgt. Elishiv Eitan Wieder HY”D, fell in battle in southern Lebanon on Erev Sukkos two years ago. Wieder recited Kaddish at the Kosel l’illui nishmas his son.
A second Birchas Kohanim gathering is scheduled for Thursday, 20 Tishrei, October 1, giving those unable to attend Monday another opportunity to participate. The event will be broadcast beginning at 8:45 a.m.
The Foundation urged visitors throughout Chol Hamoed to follow instructions from Israel Police and event personnel as officials regulate the large crowds arriving at the Kosel.
Meanwhile, tickets for tours of the Kosel tunnels during Chol Hamoed have sold out in advance. Only a limited number of spots remain for the newly opened “Sha’ar Hashamayim” experience.
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