Passover priestly blessing at Western Wall to occur with ‘limited quorum’ due to war

Against the backdrop of the war with Iran, the Passover priestly blessing that usually draws tens of thousands of worshippers to the Western Wall will be held “with a limited prayer quorum,” according to a joint statement by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, the Israel Police, and the Jerusalem Municipality.

The ceremony generally sees male descendants of the Kohanim, the Jewish priestly caste, gather to bestow a benediction — known in Hebrew as Birkat Kohanim — raising their hands to perform the blessing while wrapped in prayer shawls.

Sunday’s ceremony, however, will include just 50 men who will bestow the blessing. The event will be broadcast live.

Under the Home Front Command’s security guidelines, gatherings and services in Jerusalem can take place with up to 50 people, provided that a shelter can be reached within 90 seconds after bomb sirens go off.

Earlier today, police and Christian leaders announced an agreement to allow Easter services to be held amid the security arrangements.

Since the beginning of the war on February 28, the Old City and its surroundings, which include sites holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have been hit by fragments of missiles launched by Iran, causing damage but no casualties.