Tens of thousands gathered at the Kotel for Selichot, uniting in prayer for IDF soldiers, hostages, and the security of the Jewish state.
In a powerful display of Jewish faith and unity, over 50,000 worshippers filled the Western Wall Plaza early Friday morning for the central Selichot (penitential prayer) service ahead of the High Holidays.
The massive crowds spilled beyond the plaza, with live broadcasts projected on giant screens at Jaffa Gate and surrounding walls, ensuring thousands more could take part in the prayers. To embrace every Jew, the Selichot were also translated into sign language, allowing those with hearing impairments to join in the holy gathering.
Before the prayers began, a hachnasat sefer Torah (Torah dedication ceremony) led by Rabbi Yoshayahu Yosef Pinto brought the crowd to life with singing and dancing. Among the participants were freed hostage Agam Berger and the grieving relatives of Almog Sarusi, the young Israeli abducted and murdered by Hamas in Gaza’s tunnels, whose body was recently returned to Israel.
Throughout the night, the vast sea of worshippers lifted their voices in collective prayer—for the swift return of all hostages, for the bravery and protection of IDF soldiers, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the peace and security of the State of Israel.
A special prayer was also recited in memory of the IDF heroes who fell in battle over the past day, underscoring the eternal link between Israel’s spiritual strength and the sacrifices of its defenders.
The Western Wall once again stood as the beating heart of the Jewish people, where faith, grief, and hope intertwined as Am Yisrael prayed for a sweet and safe new year.
