Tuesday marked the first weekday of the Sukkot festival, and thousands of visitors carrying the Four Species made their way to the Western Wall for a special dawn prayer. The traditional Priestly Blessing will take place on Wednesday.
The celebrants included Rabbi Rafael Bezaleli, who makes sure to pray at the Western Wall every day. He was carrying an enormous etrog (citron) the size of a watermelon.
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"The etrog has both taste and smell. It represents the righteous, who both know the Torah and do good deeds. The Zohar says that it's like people who return from war carrying their officers on their shoulders. It shows they are returning victorious," Bezaleli explained.
Video: Western Wall News
Hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to arrive at the Western Wall for prayers over the next few days. During the Priestly Blessing, hundreds of cohanim gather together to bless those who are praying. Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau are expected to attend the ceremony on Wednesday.
Throughout Sukkot, the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City will be blocked to vehicle traffic, with the exception of residents of the Old City. From Oct. 15 to 19, the streets surrounding the Old City are also scheduled to be closed to vehicular traffic. Anyone planning to visit the Western Wall is urged to use public transportation.
