Thousands of worshippers gathered at the Western Wall on Wednesday morning for the traditional Priestly Blessing. The first was scheduled for 9:15 a.m., with a second to follow at 10:15.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Participants in the ceremony included Israel's Ashkenazi and Sephardi chief rabbis, David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, as well as Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinovitch.
Security and religious authorities warned ahead of the blessing that if the Western Wall plaza became too crowded, entrance to both the Old City and the Western Wall itself would be barred. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has appealed to the public not to attend the blessing on both Wednesday and Thursday, to allow as many people as possible to take part in the ceremony.
As the festival of Sukkot begins, the Jerusalem District Police were on alert, with hundreds of police officers, Border Police, and police volunteers fanned out across the city. Multiple security checkpoints have been set up at the entrances to the Western Wall area in an attempt to handle the expected crowds.
The public has been asked not to drive their personal vehicles to the Old City during Sukkot. Transportation options include buses, shuttles, and the city's light rail. Visitors are urged to follow police instructions as well as COVID regulations, including wearing masks at gatherings or prayer ceremonies.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
