Approximately 150,000 people participated in the Selichot prayer service at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday night, The Zioneer reports. Since the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul, about 2 million have attended Selichot events at the site.
Approximately 150,000 people attended the main Selichot (penitential prayer) service at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday night, the eve of Yom Kippur, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported. The foundation also stated that about 2 million worshippers have visited the plaza since the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul.
The Saturday night events at the Western Wall were covered in multiple reports. At 23:41 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that an estimated 100,000 people had gathered earlier in the evening to pray for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Simultaneously, the foundation released the 150,000 figure for the Selichot service and the cumulative 2 million attendance for the Elul period.
The Western Wall, a focal point for Jewish prayer during the High Holy Days season, regularly draws large crowds. As The Zioneer reported on July 24, over 100,000 attended the site on Tisha B'Av. Thousands also gathered for the fast of the 17th of Tammuz and other events throughout the summer, as previously reported.
The attendance figures are based on estimates by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and have not been independently verified.
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
Source and signal
- Open-source intake