As is tradition every year during Passover, the Priestly Blessing ceremony took place today (Tuesday). Among the tens of thousands who filled the Western Wall plaza was freed hostage Eliya Cohen, who arrived with his family. On his personal Instagram account, Eliya posted a photo in front of the Wall and wrote: “A dream to reach this moment. First time at the Kotel since.”
On October 7, Eliya went to the Nova music festival in Re’im with his partner, Ziv Abud. When the rocket sirens sounded, they ran to what became known as the “death shelter,” from which Eliya was abducted into Hamas captivity. Ziv survived by being buried under the bodies of others, which hid her from the terrorists. Eliya was released at the end of February, along with Omer Shem Tov and Omer Wenkert, after 505 days in captivity.
This year’s prayer focuses on the fight to free the hostages
The mass Priestly Blessing is taking place this year on two dates: today and this coming Thursday (April 17, the 19th of Nisan). The event is dedicated to the campaign to free the hostages. Participating in the ceremonies are former hostages who were freed from captivity, family members of those still held in Gaza, and wounded IDF soldiers from the Iron Swords War. In addition to the traditional blessing, a special prayer was recited for the safety of the soldiers and the return of the hostages. The events are being broadcast live on the Western Wall Heritage Foundation’s website (Thursday’s broadcast).
Watch the prayer held this morning at the Western
