Sukkot at the Western Wall: This year there will be two classes of the traditional Priestly Blessing

Towards the holiday of Sukkot, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation prepares for the arrival of tens of thousands of visitors and worshipers during the days of Sukkot to fulfill the pilgrimage tradition. As every year, the Foundation sets up Sukkot in the Western Wall Plaza for the benefit of the general public, with the Four Species placed in one of them for the public's use.

Due to the public's strong desire and demand, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation will hold the traditional Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim) this year on two dates. The first ceremony will take place on Monday, 17th of Tishrei, 5784, October 2, 2023. The second ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 19th of Tishrei, 5784, October 4, 2023.

The ceremonies will take place with the participation of the Chief Rabbis of Israel, including the Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, and the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Lau. Also present will be the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Moshe Lion, and a large congregation.

The times for the Priestly Blessing ceremonies are as follows:

Morning prayers (Shacharit) at 8:45 AM.

Priestly Blessing during the morning prayers (Shacharit) at 9:30 AM.

Musaf at 10:15 AM.

Priestly Blessing during Musaf at 10:30 AM.