There is a sharp drop in the number of people taking part in slichos at the Kosel this year. Organizers of the main slichos to begin at 00:45 Thursday night to Friday morning, 5 Tishrei, call on security agencies to place additional security in and around the Kosel and announce to the tzibur the area is safe for all to come.

It appears the sharp increase in attacks in areas of Yerushalayim including the Old City have driven many away from the Kosel at night when slichos are held. Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, who serves as director of the Igud Rabbanei Kehillos organization sent a letter to Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan and to senior police commanders, calling on them to increase manpower at the Kosel as well as routes leading to the holy site.

Rabbi Eliyahu explains he received dozens of phone calls from people wishing to take part in the Thursday night slichos but have apprehensions. He therefore turned to police and the minister to address the growing concerns of the tzibur and to provide “maximum security”.

Rabbi Uri Sherki, whose son Shalom Yochai HY”D was murdered in a terror attack a few months ago, calls on the tzibur to come and be mispallel at the Kosel, citing the importance of davening at the site which represents the remains of the Beis Hamikdash. He urges Israelis not to flee the Old City but rather for the masses to come and be mispallel at the Kosel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)