80,000 Join Traditional Birchas Kohanim at the Kosel

Nearly 80,000 people gathered at the Kosel on Monday morning for the first mass Birchas Kohanim of Sukkos, with hundreds of kohanim blessing the enormous crowd during Shacharis and Musaf.

The traditional Birchas Kohanim gathering has been held for the past 56 years, since it was initiated by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gefner, and is organized each Chol Hamoed Pesach and Sukkos by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

Among those attending were Chief Rabbis Rabbi Dovid Yosef and Rabbi Kalman Ber, Kosel Rov Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, ministers and public officials, released hostage Bar Cooperstein, and bereaved family members.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, a kohen, joined the Birchas Kohanim and davened for the safety and success of soldiers and security personnel.

Following davening, a traditional Kabbalas Pnei Rabo B’regel was held, with thousands passing before the rabbonim to receive their brachos for Yom Tov.

An emotional moment came when Cooperstein joined the massive gathering in a tefillah of thanksgiving for the return of the hostages one year ago. Motti Wieder, father of Staff Sgt. Eliashiv Eitan Wieder Hy”d, who was killed in battle in southern Lebanon on Erev Sukkos two years ago, recited Kaddish in his son’s memory.

Approximately 250,000 people have visited the Kosel so far over Sukkos.

A second mass Birchas Kohanim will be held at the Kosel on Thursday, 20 Tishrei, October 1, giving those unable to attend Monday’s gathering another opportunity to participate.

Photo: Western Wall Heritage Foundation