Resiliency In Photos: Birchas Kohanim At The Kosel

By FrumNews.com

In a beautiful sight, Tens of thousands of mispalilim gathered on Thursday morning for the Birchas Kohanim ceremony during the Pesach at the Kosel, led by Israel’s Chief Rabbis and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rov of the Kosel. During the ceremony, prayers were offered for the swift return of the hostages, for the healing of the wounded, and for the well-being of the IDF soldiers and security forces.

This year, at the end of Musaf, a special tefillah was held in the presence of thousands of mispalilim, for the safe return of the hostages, the “Mi Sheberach” tefillah for the success of IDF soldiers and security forces fighting on various fronts, a special prayer for the healing of the wounded from the war, and a prayer for peace and unity among the Yidden of Eretz Yisroel, under the theme of “May He grant you peace”, a tefillah of gratitude to Hashem for the miracle that occurred for the Yidden of Eretz Yisroel in thwarting the barrage of hundreds of missiles from Iran.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Israel’s chief rabbis, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Rabbi David Lau and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rov of the Kosel. And was joined by families of hostages Eliyah Cohen and Segev Kalphon, Israel’s Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, Yerushalayim District Commander Doron Turgeman, Deputy Chief of Police Rabbi Rami Brakhiyahu, Yerushalayim District commanders and officers, US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Michael Malkieli, Minister of Labor Rabbi Yoav Ben Tzur, Minister of Health Uriel Ben Tzur, Minister of Internal Security Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of Development of the Negev and Galilee Yitzhak Vassarlov, Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Services Rabbi Yehuda Avidan, Director-General of the Chief Rabbinate Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, thousands of Kohanim from all over the country, and a large crowd.

Shachris was led by Rabbi Mordechai Gafner, son of the founder of the annual ceremony, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gafner, OB”M. Musaf was led by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz.

Photo credit: Western Wall Heritage Foundation