US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman was among the 100,000 who attended the annual ‘Birkat Kohanim’ – Priestly Blessing – at the Western Wall in Jerusalem during Sukkot 2019.
The Priestly Blessing was said daily in the Holy Temple and is recited daily in synagogues throughout Israel at the morning prayer service.
The mass gathering at the Western Wall, which takes place twice a year, once during the intermediate days of Passover and once during the intermediate days of Sukkot, is a modern-day tradition, notes the Temple Institute. Unfortunately, the events were canceled this year due to the coronavirus.
Birkat Kohanim is described in Numbers 6:22-27:
“HaShem spoke to Moshe saying: Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying: This is how you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them: ‘May HaShem bless you and watch over you. May HaShem cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you. May HaShem raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.’ They shall bestow My Name upon the children of Israel, so that I will bless them.”
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