A great number of Israelis and Jewish people gathered at the Western Wall Plaza for the annual priestly blessing.

This event happened on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 during the Sukkot holiday, which has its origins in Biblical traditions. Traditionally, Jewish pilgrims go amass to the Western Wall twice a year; for the Passover and Sukkot festivals.

The streets of Jerusalem’s Old City witnessed a sea of over 50, 000 Jewish people as they moved towards the Western Wall Plaza, praying and singing together.

An observer would spot several of the Jewish people carrying about branches from the willow, palm and myrtle trees as they come for the priestly blessing, this act has its roots in Leviticus 23.

“And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God.”

The manner to bless the Israelis were first given to Aaron and his sons in the book of Numbers.

“On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, ‘The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace.’ And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

The job of the priests in the temple is to bless the people. Thousands of Jewish men that are part of the priestly line known as kohanim gathered to bless them.

Amongst those in attendance to bless the people was former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.

A Jewish visitor from France; Shmuel Blatner, recounts his experience.

“Today is an amazing day. It’s the holiday of Succoth – a holiday actually that came to us in the desert. It’s one of the three pilgrimage festivals, that we are called to go up on foot, to ascend to the Temple in the days it existed. Now we only have the Kotel (Western Wall) remaining from the Temple. We are keeping the holiday that was on foot.”

As the priests carry out their service in blessing the people, they in return receive blessings from God who said in the Bible, “I will bless them that bless you.”

Efe Lisa Ifezuo

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