In a moving ceremony held last night (Thursday) at the Western Wall plaza, some 50,000 worshippers participated in the second major Selichot gathering. The event took place in the emotional presence of freed hostages Bar Kuperstein and Agam Berger, alongside wounded IDF soldiers—both physically and mentally—Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and tens of thousands who came from across the country to unite in prayer.
During the central ceremony, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Shmuel Rabinowitz, led the tens of thousands in emotional prayers for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces. The large crowd united in outcry and supplication to the heavens also for the unity of the people and the security of the State of Israel, during these days of mercy and forgiveness. Since the beginning of the month of Elul, more than 150,000 worshippers have participated in various Selichot gatherings held over the past week at the Western Wall plaza. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said the next major Selichot ceremony is scheduled for this coming Saturday night, 9th of Elul, August 22, at 12:15 AM, with tens of thousands of worshippers expected to attend.