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Matzav · Sep 19, 2026

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Watch: 150,000 Pack the Kosel for Final Selichos Before Yom Kippur Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu attended together with his wife, Sara Netanyahu. Also participating were Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav David Yosef; Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Meir Ber; Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rav of the Kosel and the holy sites; Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion; government ministers; public officials; and numerous rabbanim and other dignitaries. During the gathering, Netanyahu offered a tefillah for the safety and success of IDF soldiers and members of Israel’s security forces, as well as for the protection of Eretz Yisroel. The Chief Rabbis similarly offered heartfelt tefillos for the welfare of the Jewish people and for greater achdus among Yidden. Addressing the massive crowd, Rav Rabinowitz reflected on the remarkable scenes witnessed at the Kosel throughout the preceding weeks and the diverse cross-section of Jews who had come together for Selichos. “This month has once again proven that the Western Wall is the beating heart of the Jewish people. From every corner of the country and from every part of our nation, people came here in large numbers – members of every community, holding every opinion and worldview, those who wear a kippah and those who do not – and stood together as one, with one heart. Together, we prayed for the success of IDF soldiers, the recovery of the wounded, the comfort of bereaved families, and the peace and unity of the people of Israel. From the holiness and spiritual elevation of the Selichot gatherings, we enter the new year with great hope: a year of healing and comfort, victory and blessing, and above all – a year in which we remember that we are all one people, bound by a shared fate and united in a shared prayer.” The sheer size of the crowd meant that many people were unable to enter the Kosel plaza itself. To allow those gathered farther away to participate, the proceedings were broadcast live on large screens positioned outside the main plaza. Additional screens were installed on the walls near Jaffa Gate and at IDF Square, with the assistance of the Yerushalayim Municipality and the Yerushalayim Development Authority. The broadcasts allowed the overflowing crowds throughout the surrounding area to follow the Selichos and join the tefillos despite being unable to reach the plaza. The massive Motzoei Shabbos gathering capped an extraordinary Elul and Aseres Yemei Teshuvah at the Kosel. According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, nearly two million people from across Eretz Yisroel and from a wide range of backgrounds came to the Kosel during the Selichos period. The crowds included former hostages, bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers and disabled veterans, active-duty soldiers, members of the security forces and countless other Jews who came to daven during the Yemei Harachamim V’Haselichos. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said: “We conclude the month of mercy and Selichot with great satisfaction and emotion. During this period, nearly two million worshippers from across the country and from all segments of Israeli society visited the Western Wall plaza. Among them were captivity survivors, bereaved families, wounded and disabled IDF veterans, IDF soldiers, and members of the security forces, alongside countless members of the people of Israel, who came together in shared prayer for the sake of the people of Israel.” The foundation has meanwhile completed its preparations for Yom Kippur itself, when thousands more are expected to make their way to the Kosel over the course of the fast. Particularly large crowds are expected toward the end of Yom Kippur for Neilah, when the plaza traditionally fills with mispallelim for the final tefillah of the day. {Matzav.com} READ MORE👉👉 --- 📲 Join the Matzav.com WhatsApp Family! 🗞️

*Watch: 150,000 Pack the Kosel for Final Selichos Before Yom Kippur* Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu attended together with his wife, Sara Netanyahu. Also participating were Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav David Yosef; Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Meir Ber; Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rav of the Kosel and the holy sites; Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion; government ministers; public officials; and numerous rabbanim and other dignitaries. During the gathering, Netanyahu offered a tefillah for the safety and success of IDF soldiers and members of Israel’s security forces, as well as for the protection of Eretz Yisroel. The Chief Rabbis similarly offered heartfelt tefillos for the welfare of the Jewish people and for greater achdus among Yidden. Addressing the massive crowd, Rav Rabinowitz reflected on the remarkable scenes witnessed at the Kosel throughout the preceding weeks and the diverse cross-section of Jews who had come together for Selichos. “This month has once again proven that the Western Wall is the beating heart of the Jewish people. From every corner of the country and from every part of our nation, people came here in large numbers – members of every community, holding every opinion and worldview, those who wear a kippah and those who do not – and stood together as one, with one heart. Together, we prayed for the success of IDF soldiers, the recovery of the wounded, the comfort of bereaved families, and the peace and unity of the people of Israel. From the holiness and spiritual elevation of the Selichot gatherings, we enter the new year with great hope: a year of healing and comfort, victory and blessing, and above all – a year in which we remember that we are all one people, bound by a shared fate and united in a shared prayer.” The sheer size of the crowd meant that many people were unable to enter the Kosel plaza itself. To allow those gathered farther away to participate, the proceedings were broadcast live on large screens positioned outside the main plaza. Additional screens were installed on the walls near Jaffa Gate and at IDF Square, with the assistance of the Yerushalayim Municipality and the Yerushalayim Development Authority. The broadcasts allowed the overflowing crowds throughout the surrounding area to follow the Selichos and join the tefillos despite being unable to reach the plaza. The massive Motzoei Shabbos gathering capped an extraordinary Elul and Aseres Yemei Teshuvah at the Kosel. According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, nearly two million people from across Eretz Yisroel and from a wide range of backgrounds came to the Kosel during the Selichos period. The crowds included former hostages, bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers and disabled veterans, active-duty soldiers, members of the security forces and countless other Jews who came to daven during the Yemei Harachamim V’Haselichos. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said: “We conclude the month of mercy and Selichot with great satisfaction and emotion. During this period, nearly two million worshippers from across the country and from all segments of Israeli society visited the Western Wall plaza. Among them were captivity survivors, bereaved families, wounded and disabled IDF veterans, IDF soldiers, and members of the security forces, alongside countless members of the people of Israel, who came together in shared prayer for the sake of the people of Israel.” The foundation has meanwhile completed its preparations for Yom Kippur itself, when thousands more are expected to make their way to the Kosel over the course of the fast. Particularly large crowds are expected toward the end of Yom Kippur for Neilah, when the plaza traditionally fills with mispallelim for the final tefillah of the day. {Matzav.com} *READ MORE*👉👉 https://matzav.com/watch-150000-pack-the-kosel-for-final-selichos-before-yom-kippur/ --- 📲 *Join the Matzav.com WhatsApp Family!* 🗞️ https://wa.link/8bhhfl

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