The Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported Sunday morning that over 100,000 Jewish worshipers prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The gathering follows a similar mass prayer event on Yom Kippur eve, as previously reported by The Zioneer.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation confirmed Sunday morning that over 100,000 Jewish worshipers prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem ahead of Yom Kippur, which begins at sunset Sunday evening. The announcement solidifies earlier estimates of the massive turnout at the holy site during the High Holidays.
The new figure follows a weekend of record attendance. On Saturday night, The Zioneer reported at 23:41 that approximately 150,000 people attended the main Selichot service on the eve of Yom Kippur. Earlier, at 02:15 Sunday, The Zioneer reported that an estimated 100,000 people had gathered for a mass prayer for the release of hostages held in Gaza, with freed captives Elkana Bohbot and Rom Breslavsky among the crowd. The foundation separately reported that about 2 million worshippers visited the Western Wall plaza during the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance.
The Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism where prayer is permitted, has drawn record-breaking crowds throughout the holiday season, as The Zioneer has reported. The site has served as a central venue for both religious services and national solidarity events, including the hostage prayer that drew families and supporters from across the country.
The foundation's confirmation provides official backing for the attendance figures that had been reported based on initial estimates.
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