Thousands of Jewish congregants came together at Jerusalem’s Western Wall on Thursday for the traditional priestly blessing prayer.
This special event happens twice a year – during the middle days of Passover and Sukkot, known as Chol Ha’Moed – at the holiest place in Judaism. This year, Israel’s Chief Rabbis and the Rabbi of the Western Wall led the ceremony. Prayers were said for the quick return of the remaining Israeli hostages and for the safety of Israel and its soldiers fighting against Hamas in Gaza.
“In this holy moment, we remember and pray for our brothers and sisters still captive in Gaza, may God have mercy on them. Our brothers and sisters who cannot live in their homes because of enemy missiles. Our brothers and sisters who support their wounded and buried their dead. And along with this, we thank the Lord for standing with us during last week’s missile attack, which the world has not seen the like of – and by the grace of God, no one was hurt,” Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz said in prayer.
At this touching event, hundreds of “Kohanim,” who are descendants of Aaron from the priestly tribe, said the three-verse blessing (Numbers 6:24-26): “May the Lord bless you and protect you; May the Lord make His face shine on you and be kind to you; May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
This tradition comes from Aaron, the first Jewish High Priest, who would bless the people after offering sacrifices.
