Thousands Gather at Jerusalem’s Western Wall for Prayers Before Rosh Hashana 2025

Thousands flock to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to recite prayers of repentance before the Jewish New Year.  

What Are Selichot Prayers?

Purpose and Content: Selichot (singular: Selicha, meaning "forgiveness") are poetic prayers expressing remorse for sins and seeking divine mercy. They date back to the Middle Ages, drawing from biblical sources like Psalms and the prophets, and are chanted in a haunting, melodic style.

Timing: Traditionally recited from the last Sunday before Rosh Hashanah (or earlier in some communities) through Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The pre-dawn vigils build anticipation for the High Holy Days, a period of introspection.

Atmosphere: Services are often held in the dim light of early morning, with participants swaying in unison, accompanied by shofar blasts (ram's horn calls) symbolizing awakening and alarm.

The Western Wall as a Portal to the Shechinah

In Kabbalah, the Kotel isn't merely stone; it's a "gate" to the Divine Feminine presence, the Shechinah—God's indwelling energy exiled in the material world since the Temple's destruction. Praying there during Selichot "awakens" this presence, drawing down or (divine light) from higher realms.

Insight: The crowd's collective energy creates a merkavah (chariot-like ascent), elevating sparks of holiness trapped in the stones. As the Zohar teaches, "The stones of the Wall weep" during these vigils, mirroring human tears and facilitating tikun (rectification) of the world's brokenness.

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