Thousands attend priestly blessing in Jerusalem
The semiannual mass priestly benediction service — or Birkat Kohanim -- took place Sunday morning at the Western Wall. Tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers crowded the plaza to receive the blessing from the Kohanim, descendants of Aaron who make up the priestly caste. Both new chief rabbis, David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, participated as well.
The words of the blessing, found in Numbers, Chapter 6, are considered by some to be among the most ancient in the Torah. “And the Lord spoke unto Moses saying: Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying: Thus you shall bless the children of Israel. Say unto them: ‘The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto Thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.’ So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Read The Times of Israel article, September 22, 2013.
Photo Credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
