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 Czech Republic to Move its Embassy to Jerusalem Video of the Day Thousands Gather at Western Wall for Birkat Kohanim on Pesach Jerusalem New Electricity Infrastructure Project Planned for Jerusalem Headlines US NYT Pundit: Biden’s Embargo Will Prolong Gaza War, Push Israel into China’s Arms Politics Direct Polls: Most Israelis Prefer Ofer Winter as Defense Minister over Yoav Gallant Latest News Stories Israel At War: Iron Swords Pentagon: Weather Delaying Completed Pier’s Arrival Off Gaza Shore IDF & Security Netanyahu: ‘If Necessary, We Will Fight with our Fingernails’ Where Am I Where Am I: The Fallen IDF & Security [Watch] ‘Strengthening the Axis of Evil’: Israelis React to Biden’s Arms Threat IDF & Security Kirby: Rafah Operation Benefits Hamas’s Negotiating Position IDF & Security Biden Reportedly Delayed Saying He Withheld Arms from Israel Until after Holocaust Speech News Briefs News Briefs Three Israeli Soldiers Wounded in Booby-Trapped Rafah Terror Tunnel News Briefs Rubio: Revoke Visas for Foreign University Students who Support Hamas Recommended Today Israel On Israel’s 76th Birthday: 7.427 Million Jews, 2.089 Million Arabs, Half a Million ‘Others’ Holidays It’s 5708-09 All Over Again: KKL Archive Releases Images from Israel’s Formative Years Diaspora South African Jewish Student to American Jews: Join the Club Islamists Berkeley Law Professor in Hot Water for Grabbing the Mic of a Muslim Who Invaded her Home 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