More than 50,000 people gathered at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem on Thursday night to participate in the final Selichot service before Rosh Hashanah.
The Selichot prayers were led by Israel’s current Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Yosef, and the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar.
The event was also attended by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, MKs Limor Son Har-Melech and Ohad Tal, and Jerusalem District Police Commander Avshalom Peled.
At the opening of the service, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, addressed the tens of thousands gathered and spoke about the importance of unity among the Jewish people. He called on them to set disagreements aside, promote unconditional love and mutual responsibility, and enter the New Year united, with prayers for peace and unity in Israel and for good news.
During the service, the rabbis offered heartfelt prayers for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces, the recovery of the wounded and the security of the State of Israel.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said that since the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul, nearly one million worshippers from across Israeli society have visited the site. It added that people can continue attending the large-scale services that will be held at the Western Wall plaza during the Ten Days of Repentance.
Due to the large crowds, the service was broadcast live on the walls of the Old City and at the Jaffa Gate, at the initiative of the mayor and in cooperation with the Jerusalem Development Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, allowing thousands of worshippers who were unable to enter the plaza to follow the service.