Starting last night, the eve of Tisha B'Av, with the recitation of Lamentations and continuing into the early hours of the night after Tisha B'Av, tens of thousands of worshippers visited the Western Wall to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem, near the site of the Temple.
This evening (Tuesday), towards the end of the fast, thousands from Israel and the diaspora gathered at the Western Wall Plaza for a spiritually uplifting event filled with holiness, in prayer and a call for unity among the people of Israel, attended by rabbis, public figures, families of hostages, and wounded IDF soldiers.
The event was opened by the rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who recited chapters from Psalms, the Shema, and accepted the yoke of heaven’s sovereignty in light of the difficult situation facing the people of Israel. Following this, a prayer for peace in Israel was led by the director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mr. Mordechai (Suli) Eliav.
As every year, the participants of OU's NCSY Kollel program gathered at the Western Wall plaza towards the end of the fast, joined by Executive Director of OU Israel, Rabbi Avi Berman, and the Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion.
Thousands sang songs expressing their longing for the rebuilding of the Temple and the building up of Jerusalem, and participated in a special prayer for the peace of the soldiers and the speedy return of the hostages.
At the conclusion of the event, thousands sang "Ani Ma'amin" and "Achenu Kol Beit Yisrael," praying together for the swift return of the hostages, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the safety of IDF soldiers and security forces.
Later tonight, the night after Tisha B'Av, thousands, including Admorim (Hasidic leaders), rabbis, and yeshiva students, are expected to arrive at the Western Wall for the "Kiddush Levanah" ceremony and songs of yearning and longing.