The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that approximately 150,000 people attended the main Selichot service on the eve of Yom Kippur, and that about 2 million worshippers visited the plaza during the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation released official attendance figures for the penitential season on Sunday morning, reporting that approximately 150,000 people attended the main Selichot service on the eve of Yom Kippur and that some 2 million worshippers visited the Western Wall plaza during the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance.
The foundation's announcement confirms The Zioneer's earlier reporting on Saturday night (23:41 Jerusalem), when an estimated 100,000 people gathered at the plaza for prayers for the release of the hostages, and N12 News put the main Selichot service attendance at 150,000. The foundation's confirmation now provides the official season tally, described as the largest since the war began.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this year, the Western Wall has drawn large crowds throughout the mourning and penitential seasons: over 100,000 people on Tisha B'Av (July 24), thousands on the fast of the 17th of Tammuz (July 2), and some 1,200 Diaspora Jews for a Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony organized with the foundation (July 13). The foundation's figures cover the full Elul period and the Ten Days of Repentance.
The breakdown of the 2 million visitors — daily averages, or the share accounted for by the Selichot and hostage-prayer gatherings — has not been published.
5 developments
- StrongOver 100,000 attend Western Wall on Tisha B'Av, organizers report
- DevelopingThousands gather at Western Wall for fast of 17th of Tammuz
- DevelopingHeaven's gates open: Collective singing at Western Wall draws large crowd
- DevelopingThousands of Jewish worshipers ascend Temple Mount; handful arrested over prayer, group says
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