Thousands attend priestly blessing in Jerusalem despite fears of violence

Thousands attend the biannual priestly blessing at Jerusalem’s Western Wall plaza, despite a string of deadly terror attacks and rocket fire in recent days.

The blessing, a mass prayer event, which this year falls on Ramadan, is less attended than in previous years, when worshippers clad in prayer shawls packed the men’s section of the Western Wall area to capacity.

One male worshiper, Ohad David, a resident of the West Bank settlement of Givat Ze’ev, came alone to the blessing instead of with his three boys, as he had originally planned.

“There’s no question of abandoning the custom because of a few terror attacks, but there’s also no need to pretend the circumstances are ideal for bringing children to the Old City,” David, 42, says.

Police and soldiers are stationed throughout the Old City of Jerusalem as part of an emergency deployment.

Occurring on Passover and Sukkot, the traditional benediction sees male descendants of the Kohanim priestly caste gather to bless crowds.

The worshipers raise their hands as those conducting the blessing also cover their heads with prayer shawls.

Several hundred Jews have also visited the Temple Mount under heavy police guard.

The events are taking place amid simmering tensions after a spike in violence in recent days.