50,000 at Birchas Kohanim

By COLlive reporter

Over 50,000 people have attended the annual Birchas Kohanim ceremony at the Kotel in Jerusalem on Thursday, making it one of the largest in years.

The giving of the priestly blessing in such a setting on chol hamoed Pesach was been taking place for over 40 years, based on a segula by R’ Eleazar of Worms, the baal harokeach.

Joining the many Israelis who flocked to the Kotel square were American families who spent Pesach in Israel.

Devout Jews began streaming to the Kotel in the early morning hours, and private vehicle traffic into the Old City was blocked by police, Israel National News reported. Instead, the multitudes advanced toward the Kotel by foot and on public transportation.

Also attending were Israel’s Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger and the Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz who greeted the crowd following the blessing.

“The sight of cohanim who gathered from all corners of the Land and earth, in order to bless ‘the nation of Israel with love,’ is a wonderful sight,” said Deputy Minister of Religions, MK Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, who was also present.

“True brotherly love. I hope and pray that we merit to strengthen this brotherly love in all sectors of society.”