Full Breakdown
Prime Minister Netanyahu Leads Massive Final Selichot Gathering at Jerusalem’s Western Wall
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Core Event: Final Selichot Prayer Before Yom Kippur
On the eve of Yom Kippur, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined roughly 150,000 worshippers for the season’s concluding Selichot service at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem’s Old City. The crowd filled the plaza, surrounding balconies and alleys, and the ceremony was relayed on large screens at the plaza’s outskirts, Jaffa Gate and IDF Square for those unable to enter. Netanyahu recited a prayer for the safety of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and other security personnel. The service featured Israel’s chief rabbis—Rabbi David Yosef (Sephardi) and Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber (Ashkenazi)—as well as Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Western Wall’s resident rabbi, who led prayers for national unity and the well-being of the armed forces. Former hostages from Gaza, including Eliya Cohen, Rom Braslavski, Elkana Bohbot, Ohad Ben Ami, and Supernova festival survivor Ziv Abud, were also present.
Background & Context
Selichot—penitential prayers marking the start of the Ten Days of Repentance—traditionally begin on the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul for Sephardi communities and on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah for Ashkenazi communities. The final Selichot service precedes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and is intended to unite the nation in collective prayer for mercy, forgiveness and peace.
Data & Statistics
- 150,000 participants attended the final Selichot gathering, according to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.
- Over the month-long Selichot period, the foundation reported nearly two million worshippers visited the Western Wall plaza from across Israel and diverse segments of society.
- The event was broadcast on giant screens to accommodate the “huge crowds” that filled the area, as noted by the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s prayer emphasized protection for IDF soldiers and security forces.
President Isaac Herzog posted a message urging Israelis to remember mercy and forgiveness ahead of Yom Kippur, wishing a “gmar chatimah tova” (inscription for good in the Book of Life).
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sent a message of reflection, calling for deeper commitment to God and one another during the holy day.
Verbatim Quotes
- “May we all merit mercy, forgiveness and open hearts, and may our prayers be accepted with favor,” — Isaac Herzog, israeli president
- “May this holy day deepen our commitment to God and one another,” — Israel Mike Huckabee
What’s Next
Preparations are underway for Yom Kippur prayers at the Western Wall, with thousands of worshippers expected for the concluding Ne’ilah service and the blowing of the shofar that marks the end of the fast. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has completed logistical arrangements for the upcoming holy day.