Home Media Photo of the Day Photo Essay: Jerusalem Pilgrimage and Priestly Blessings 5772 MediaPhoto of the DayColumnsYishai Fleisher Photo Essay: Jerusalem Pilgrimage and Priestly Blessings 5772 By Yishai Fleisher - 18 Nisan 5772 – April 9, 2012 0 Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter tweet Photo Credit: Jewish worshippers cover themselves with prayer shawls as they pray in front of the Western Wall, in Jerusalem's Old City, during the mass priestly blessing on the pilgrimage holiday of Passover. The priestly blessing is know in Hebrew as Birkat Kohanim or as 'the raising of the hands' (Hebrew: nesiat kapayim), or 'Dukhanen' (from the Hebrew word dukhan - platform - because the blessing is given from a raised rostrum). The Priestly Blessing consists of the following Biblical verses (Numbers 6:24–26): May the LORD bless you and guard you - May the LORD make His face shed light upon you and be gracious unto you - May the LORD lift up His face unto you and give you peace. Jews from all over Israel and the world come on the pilgrimage festivals to take part in the mass Birkat Kohanim. Jews stand on the Mount of Olives overlooking the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and gaze towards the Temple Mount, where two temples stood and were destroyed. Jews pray for the reestablishment of a third temple in the same place. The Mamilla open-air mall stands adjacent to the western entrance of Jerusalem's Old City at Jaffa Gate. In a few short years since its establishment, it has become a popular shopping and dining destination. It was packed on the day of the Priestly Blessing of Passover 5772. After the Priestly Blessing the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar welcomes worshipers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and blessed them himself. Advertisement RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Israel At War: Iron Swords Saying Shema: Global Hour of Jewish Unity at Western Wall Plaza Photo of the Day Purim Birds UN Israeli Protest Movement Vows to Block UNRWA’s Jerusalem Offices Headlines Antisemitism Dissent Rips through State Dept. as Extreme Israel Haters Battle Ordinary Anti-Israel Staff Palestinian Authority White House Launches Campaign to Whitewash Marwan Barghouti Latest News Stories IDF & Security Ben-Gvir: Biden sides with Tlaib, Sinwar over Netanyahu IDF & Security Israel to Provide ‘Security Bubble’ for Gaza Pier Antisemitism Dissent Rips through State Dept. as Extreme Israel Haters Battle Ordinary Anti-Israel Staff Boycott / BDS Canadian Weapons Makers Push Back Against Boycott on Israel Photo of the Day Haredi Battalion Rushed to Gaza during Basic Training Finally Graduated Palestinian Authority White House Launches Campaign to Whitewash Marwan Barghouti News Briefs News Briefs Israel and Cyprus Move Forward on Underwater Electric Cable Plan News Briefs Gallup: Most Americans Oppose Israeli Actions Against Hamas Recommended Today Boycott / BDS Canadian Weapons Makers Push Back Against Boycott on Israel Photo of the Day Haredi Battalion Rushed to Gaza during Basic Training Finally Graduated Jewish Neo-Nazi Who Inspired Edward Norton’s Character in ‘American History X’ Became an Orthodox Jew Antisemitism Feeling Unsafe, Nova Survivors Leave UK after Encounter with Manchester Antisemitic Cops Sponsored Posts Fasting and Feasting on Zayin Adar Sponsored Posts Sponsored Post Luxury Living in Israel Like Never Before Sponsored Posts Rob Ernst