Hundreds of Thousands Expected At The Kosel During Sukkos (PHOTO)

(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Officials report an estimated one million people participated in slichos at the Kosel in Elul and Tishrei and now, preparations are winding down for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to come during Sukkos week.

Over a million mispallalim took part in slichos during Elul and Tishrei with the highlight being on erev Yom Kippur in which 100,000 mispallalim were on hand together with the Chief Rabbis of Israel Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita as well as Rav of the Kosel and Holy Sites Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz.

The Kosel Heritage Foundation is reporting that sukkas will be available for use by the public, sukkas sponsored by philanthropist Eli Kleinman of the USA. There will be arba minim in one of them for those wishing to make a bracha over them inside a sukka, especially for those who hold like the Rambam that one can fulfill the mitzva of the arba minim D’oraissa during Chol Hamoed Sukkos even without the Beis Hamikdash as was the minhag of Rav Elyashiv ZT”L.

Birchas Kohanim Sukkos 5778 will take place this year IY”H on Sunday, the second day of Chol Hamoed Sukkos 5778.

Shachris begins at 8:45AM and Birchas Kohanim is set for 9:30AM. Musaf to begin at 10:15AM followed by Birchas Kohanim at 10:30AM.

The Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and HaGaon HaRav Dovid Lau Shlita will receive the khal from 10:45AM to 12:00PM.

For additional information, one may visit the website, www.thekotel.org