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 Israel At War: Iron Swords Graham to Austin: ‘Give Israel What They Need to Fight the War They Can’t Afford to Lose’ Israel At War: Iron Swords ‘Everyone Wants to Die from Our Side. We Love Death the Way You Love Life.’ Latest News Stories Israel At War: Iron Swords Graham to Austin: ‘Give Israel What They Need to Fight the War They Can’t Afford to Lose’ Israel At War: Iron Swords ‘Everyone Wants to Die from Our Side. We Love Death the Way You Love Life.’ Israel At War: Iron Swords Defense Minister ‘Determined to Return Residents to Their Homes’ Israel At War: Iron Swords IDF Attacks 20 Terror Sites in Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah Retaliates with Massive Barrage Israel At War: Iron Swords Foreign Ministry: 2-State ‘Solution’ = Reward to Hamas for Murder UK London Mayor Khan Says There Must Be Equally Strong Criticism of Hamas and Netanyahu News Briefs News Briefs Kerem Shalom Closed to Humanitarian Aid as At Least 7 Wounded in Hamas Rocket Barrage News Briefs State Department: No US-Saudi Defense Pact Without Israel Normalization Recommended Today UK London Mayor Khan Says There Must Be Equally Strong Criticism of Hamas and Netanyahu Interfaith Relations Bnai Brith Portugal Remembers the Nun Who Recited Kaddish for a Jewish Man On Campus / Education Jerusalem College Offers Safe Haven Programs for US Students Fearing Antisemitism US Israel No Longer Trusts Biden to Broker an Honest Hostage Deal 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