WATCH: Thousands attend priestly blessing ceremony at Western Wall

The custom sees hundreds of Cohens (priests), descended from the biblical figure of Aaron and the Israelite tribe of Levi, raise their hands within their prayer shawls and bless the masses.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: APRIL 25, 2016 11:33
Thousands attend priestly blessing ceremony at Western Wall
Thousands of people flocked to the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City Monday for the traditional Birkat Kohanim ceremony, the priestly blessing, held annually on the intermediate days of  Passover and Succot.
The custom sees hundreds of Cohens (priests), descended from the biblical figure of Aaron and the Israelite tribe of Levi, raise their hands within their prayer shawls and bless the masses.
Border Police, undercover units and special patrol units were mobilized throughout the Old City and Jerusalem to prevent any terrorist attacks during the large scale event.
Also on Monday, 584 people visited the Temple Mount including 453 tourists.
Jerusalem security forces removed two Jewish visitors to the contested stating that the two had violated the regulations on Jewish visitation to the contested holy site which include a ban on prayer in the Temple Mount complex.
Visits to the compound were due to routinely continue on the second intermediary day of Chol Hamoed on Passover.
Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report