Photo Essay: 50,000 People Gather at Western Wall to Pray for Safe Return of Hostages in Gaza
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
In an extraordinary display of unity, some 50,000 Jews from all walks of life gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Wednesday for a mass prayer calling for the safe return of the hostages held by the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
The Ashkenazi and Sephardic chief rabbis of Israel — David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, respectively — read Psalms together with the families of the hostages seized by Hamas terrorists during their Oct. 7 pogrom in the Jewish state.
The Ashkenazi and Sephardic chief rabbis of Israel, David Lau (far right) and Yitzhak Yosef (second from right). Photo: Yaacov Cohen
“A ruthless enemy, unfazed by anything, is out to destroy and murder all Jews, young and old alike, children and women included. We’ve suffered many losses in this war, and every person’s heart aches for those we’ve lost,” the chief rabbis said. “We must cry out and implore for the mercy of the heavens to keep the whole of Israel.”
The Ashkenazi and Sephardic chief rabbis of Israel, David Lau (far left) and Yitzhak Yosef (second from left). Photo: Yaacov Cohen
Held on the evening before the start of the Hebrew month of Shevat, also known as Minor Yom Kippur, the prayer included numerous shofar blasts, an apparent rallying cry to open the heavens.
Video credit: Jewish Breaking News
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
The prayer drew activists holding posters of the hostages, as well as a diverse mix of Jews, including ultra-orthodox, religious Zionists, and secular Jews. One man, Amir, described himself as an atheist. “I may not believe in God but I think that the power of being here, with the people I was fighting just a few months ago, has the power to unleash miracles,” he told The Algemeiner, referencing the sparring sides of the judicial reform debate that tore the country apart in the months preceding the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
Hamas kidnapped 240 hostages during its Oct. 7 onslaught and murdered 1,200 people. There are 136 hostages still being held in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that 25 of those have died while in Hamas captivity. Over 100 captives were released during a temporary ceasefire in late November.
Rabbi David Stav, the chief rabbi of the city of Shoham and the chairman of the Tzohar organization, said: “We are breaking open the gates of heaven to bring home all our hostages and captives who are in the hands of the murderous and heinous terrorist organization that threatens to destroy us.”
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
Several prayers and penitential liturgies, including those said during the High Holy Days, were recited for the hostages and for the IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza.
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
Later on Wednesday, a prayer and solidarity event was held in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, attended by Israeli performers Idan Raichel and Aaron Razel, as well as several prominent rabbis.
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
“It was beautiful and moving and sad,” Levona Shneid, a teenager from Jaffa, told The Algemeiner. “We saw all kinds of people rise above any differences between them and just be together in this moment.”
Thousands of Jews gather for a mass prayer for the hostages in Gaza at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jan. 10, 2023. Photo: Yaacov Cohen
Watch video from Wednesday’s mass prayer at the Western Wall:
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