Some 35,000 people arrived at the Western Wall this morning to take part in traditional Sukkot holiday prayers. The main attraction was the Priestly Blessing, where hundreds of Kohanim [of priestly lineage] blessed, as one, the thousands of worshipers. Police sources said that this was probably the largest gathering of worshipers at the Wall in the past two years. Taxis and private vehicles were not allowed into the Old City, thus that many thousands of people made their way to the holy site on foot.
Five busloads of visitors from North America, mostly from the New York area and the Young Israel of Forest Hills in particular, arrived in the sukkah of Yeshivat Beit El this afternoon. Led by Mr. and Mrs. David Hollander, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Gluck, and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Berman, the group was treated to cantorial selections by Cantors Adler and Weinbach, as well as short greetings by Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) and MK Benny Elon (Moledet). Beit El Chief Rabbi Zalman Melamed, Beit El Mayor Yisrael Rosenberg, Arutz-7 Executive Director Yaakov Katz and Yechiel Leiter also addressed the guests, who celebrated their holiday visit by dancing to the music of Hassidic music star and Beit El resident Akiva Margaliot.
At least three of the Four Species of Sukkot have medicinal properties. Margalit Shilo of the Leumit Sick Fund, quoted in HaTzofeh, counts the species' blessings: "The Etrog (citron) balances the liver's actions and increases appetite... Citron juice balances blood pressure... The Hadas (myrtle) is a cleansing agent, helping with intestine infections, stomach pains and constipation... and is an anti-dandruff agent... Water boiled with the Aravah (willow) can serve as a painkiller, and is good for the throat and gums..." It should be noted, however, that the Four Species used on Sukkot may not Halakhically be used for anything other than their ritual purpose until after the holiday.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hosted in his sukkah this morning soldiers who made aliyah [immigration to Israel] in recent years. A sukkah is a temporary one-room home built for the weeklong holiday of Sukkot, which ends this Friday. Volunteers from all over the country will also visit the Prime Minister's sukkah.
Five busloads of visitors from North America, mostly from the New York area and the Young Israel of Forest Hills in particular, arrived in the sukkah of Yeshivat Beit El this afternoon. Led by Mr. and Mrs. David Hollander, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Gluck, and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Berman, the group was treated to cantorial selections by Cantors Adler and Weinbach, as well as short greetings by Minister Danny Naveh (Likud) and MK Benny Elon (Moledet). Beit El Chief Rabbi Zalman Melamed, Beit El Mayor Yisrael Rosenberg, Arutz-7 Executive Director Yaakov Katz and Yechiel Leiter also addressed the guests, who celebrated their holiday visit by dancing to the music of Hassidic music star and Beit El resident Akiva Margaliot.
At least three of the Four Species of Sukkot have medicinal properties. Margalit Shilo of the Leumit Sick Fund, quoted in HaTzofeh, counts the species' blessings: "The Etrog (citron) balances the liver's actions and increases appetite... Citron juice balances blood pressure... The Hadas (myrtle) is a cleansing agent, helping with intestine infections, stomach pains and constipation... and is an anti-dandruff agent... Water boiled with the Aravah (willow) can serve as a painkiller, and is good for the throat and gums..." It should be noted, however, that the Four Species used on Sukkot may not Halakhically be used for anything other than their ritual purpose until after the holiday.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hosted in his sukkah this morning soldiers who made aliyah [immigration to Israel] in recent years. A sukkah is a temporary one-room home built for the weeklong holiday of Sukkot, which ends this Friday. Volunteers from all over the country will also visit the Prime Minister's sukkah.