'Limited' Priestly blessing at Western Wall to be broadcast online
In most years, tens of thousands of Jews crowd the Western Wall Plaza to receive the priestly blessings.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFBirkat Kohainim, or priestly blessing, recited at the Western Wall on Passover, April 22, 2019(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
The traditional mass priestly blessing at the Western Wall will run in a limited format this Passover due to the coronavirus restrictions.Every year, on the second intermediate day of Passover and Sukkot, tens of thousands of people crowd the Western Wall Plaza to receive a blessing from hundreds of kohanim. However, due to social distancing directives, only a quorum of 10 kohanim will be present, maintaining the proper distance between themselves.The prayer will be broadcast live on April 12 via the Western Wall website, Facebook and YouTube, as well as via the phone number (02)-301-1133. The prayer service will start at 8:30 a.m., with the two blessings expected at approximately 9 a.m. and 9:40 a.m."The gates of tears are open, and the gates of the Kotel even more so," said Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites. "May the prayers of masses of Jews and Birkat Kohanim, to protect from harm, be received – and may we all merit to return and pray prayers of thanksgiving together at the Western Wall."
