Approximately 100,000 people gathered overnight at the Kosel for a massive central Selichos gathering, joined by rabbanim, government ministers, public officials and tens of thousands of mispallelim.
Thousands more participated from Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where the tefillos were broadcast live from the Kosel. The gathering there included released hostages Bar Kuperstein, Matan Angrest, Rom Braslavski, Moran Stella Yanai, Agam Berger, Omer Wenkert, Nimrod Cohen and Eliya Cohen.
Family members of hostages who were murdered in Hamas captivity in Gaza also participated, including relatives of Yonatan Samerano, Guy Iluz, Tamir Adar, Omer Neutra and Eliya Toledano Hy”d.
Mordechai “Soli” Eliav, director general of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, opened the gathering by speaking about the connection forged between the Kosel and Hostages Square throughout the hostage crisis. He noted that approximately 1.5 million mispallelim had joined in tefillah for the hostages during the period of their captivity, particularly during last year’s Selichos gatherings.
Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rav of the Kosel and Holy Sites, delivered a special tefillas hoda’ah for the return of the hostages.
“Tonight, from the Kosel and Hostages Square, I want to say to You, Ribbono Shel Olam: Look down from Heaven and see how, during the most difficult time, we stood together,” Rav Rabinowitz said. “We did not always agree on the path, but we were all partners in concern, prayer and hope.”
“For such a long period, all of our hearts were held captive — until the final hostage returned,” he continued. “In the merit of this Kiddush Hashem, the brotherhood and courage of the hostages, who sanctified the Name of Heaven in the darkest places and continue to do so now — open for us the gates of Heaven and send us a good and blessed year.”
Rabbanim also led tefillos for IDF soldiers and security forces, for the recovery of the wounded, and for peace, security and achdus among Klal Yisroel.
The enormous turnout forced organizers to accommodate thousands who could not enter the Kosel plaza. Giant screens were erected along the walls of the Old City and at Sha’ar Yaffo, allowing additional crowds to participate in the Selichos from outside the packed plaza.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said preparations have now been completed for the final central Selichos gathering of the year, scheduled for Motzei Shabbos. The gathering will begin at midnight with Hataras Nedarim and the annulment of curses.
Officials are urging the tens of thousands expected to attend to arrive early and follow instructions from police and event organizers.
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