The Western Wall Fills on the First Night
Thousands gathered at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem for the opening night of Selichot, marking the start of the penitential season in a powerful communal display. Despite heavy traffic, crowds continued to pour into the Old City, prompting officials to advise the use of public transportation over private vehicles.
Worshippers of all backgrounds filled the plaza through the night—men, women, youth, bank employees, and Hasidim. Observers reflected on the unique power of the moment, asking what draws such a diverse crowd at such an unusual hour. In a post shared by journalist Sivan Rahav Meir, the opening night of Selichot at the Western Wall was described as unexpectedly powerful, as crowds filled the plaza already on the first night. “I thought it was a photo from last year’s Selichot,” she wrote, “but no—the plaza was already full like this on the very first night.”
A sign placed at the city entrance read: “Avoid arriving by private vehicle for Selichot and use public transportation.”
Meir quoted an educator who said: “There is depth here. Never come to Selichot as a private individual, but as part of the community. This is not a personal matter, but a connection to the collective.”
The Prayer of Selichot
The Selichot services are communal prayers for Divine forgiveness, recited during the High Holiday season and on Jewish fast days. Sephardic communities begin Selichot at the start of the Hebrew month of Elul, continuing daily until Rosh Hashanah. Ashkenazic communities begin later, holding their first Selichot on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, with additional prayers in the early mornings leading up to the New Year.
While most Jewish services take place during the day or early evening, High Holiday Selichot are an exception—held in the early hours before dawn. Drawing from biblical verses and rabbinic teachings, the prayers are a soul-stirring introduction to the Days of Awe.
A Call to Join
Content creator Elyasaf Ezra encouraged his followers to participate in an Instagram post: “Go to Selichot at the Kotel. Choose an evening. Wear your nicest clothes. Listen to the piyutim (liturgical poems). Refuel your soul. No date compares to a date with G‑d.”
