JERUSALEM, Israel – Regardless of battle and rumors of battle, tens of hundreds of Jews got here to the Western Wall throughout the transitional days of Passover to wish and obtain the annual blessing.
Unsurprisingly, this yr's theme was hostages and their households.
Greater than 30,000 individuals got here to take part in Birkat Hacohenim, which implies “Priestly Blessing” in Hebrew, this Passover, calling for the return of hostages held by Hamas and peace for the State of Israel.
Contributors got here from everywhere in the world to bless and be blessed. This yr it included the households of the hostages.
Sigi Cohen's son Eliya was wounded and brought hostage to Gaza within the bloodbath and kidnappings led by Hamas on 7 October.
“We got here to the Kotel for the priestly blessing as a result of Eliya is a kohen (of the priestly lineage) and couldn’t attend the priestly blessing, so the rabbi of the Western Wall invited us right here to return hear the priestly blessing and provides the facility of the blessing that was right here immediately to Eliya and to all of the hostages who’re in Gaza 0:41 that they are going to be strengthened by this blessing till Eliya, with the assistance of God, returns to us, Cohen mentioned CBN Information.
Within the Guide of Numbers, God provides Moses and Aaron these phrases to bless the youngsters of Israel:
“The Lord bless you and shield you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord elevate up his face to you and provide you with peace.”
Whereas Aaron's blessing or blessing is a every day a part of Jewish prayer, this public custom on the Wall takes place twice a yr – throughout Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and Passover.
Jewish males believed to be of priestly lineage come to bless the individuals of Israel. The final collective priestly blessing on the Western Wall was throughout Sukkot final fall, simply days earlier than the October 7 assault by Hamas.
Sigi Cohen felt it was essential to return and communicate for her son.
“I believe that the prayers that we pray appeal to all of the hostages to return to us, and that’s the most essential factor, as a result of solely the Holy One, solely our Father who’s in heaven, can return them to us,” Cohen acknowledged. “There's nobody however Him. He's the one one who can convey them residence. He's the one one almighty who can convey them again.”
Along with the priestly blessing, there have been particular prayers for the prisoners in Gaza, for the greater than 100,000 Israelis displaced from their properties by the assaults, for the wounded, for the households of those that died, for the troopers of the IDF and for the safety of the State of Israel.
Cohen shared, “We pray that on this month of Nissan (within the Jewish calendar), that’s the month of redemption, when the individuals of Israel had been redeemed, and with the assistance of God they are going to be redeemed once more. To God, that they’ll redeem all of the hostages and daughters and sons with the assistance of God they’ll return to their properties well being and wellness.”
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz of the Western Wall thanked God for standing with Israel throughout the rocket assault from Iran in early April. He mentioned that God had accomplished miracles for Israel when He introduced them out of Egypt, so Israel have to be grateful. He additionally prayed that God would take away His anger from Israel.
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