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 Jerusalem New Electricity Infrastructure Project Planned for Jerusalem Photo of the Day Expel UNRWA Israel At War: Iron Swords Saying Shema: Global Hour of Jewish Unity at Western Wall Plaza Headlines Israel At War: Iron Swords UK Joins US to Impose Sanctions on Iran Chabad LIVE: Chabad’s 50th Mitzvah Tank Parade in New York City Latest News Stories Antisemitism Ilhan Omar’s Daughter Suspended from Barnard for Anti-Israel Protest Gaza ‘Gaza Stores Full; Markets Overwhelmed with Goods Israel At War: Iron Swords UK Joins US to Impose Sanctions on Iran UN Israeli Minister Calls on UN Envoy to Deliver Matzah to Hostages in Gaza Israel At War: Iron Swords Qatar ‘Re-Evaluating’ Position as Mediator in Hostage Talks Israel At War: Iron Swords Israel’s AG Asks Why Imprisoned Terrorists Do Not Get Fruit News Briefs News Briefs Confused Biden to Israel: ‘Don’t Move on Haifa’! News Briefs As Druze Mark Holiday, Figures Show Tenfold Growth Since Israel’s Founding Recommended Today Iran Israel’s Defense Systems Will Be Stretched by Iranian Drone and Missile Attacks US Navy Secretary: It Cost a Fortune to Intercept Iranian Ballistic Missiles Aimed at Israel In Print The Machine Matzah Controversy: A History – Rabbis, Matzah, and Invention India India Police Arrest 2 Jewish Women for Tearing Down Pro-Hamas Poster Sponsored Posts Unlock Your Future with a Degree from Bar Ilan University Sponsored Posts Tova Point Fasting and Feasting on Zayin Adar Sponsored Posts Sponsored Post