The Western Wall Plaza is being prepared to welcome tens of thousands of worshippers expected to arrive during the upcoming holiday of Shavuot and the adjacent Shabbat to commemorate the giving of the Torah to the Jews, and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
During the holiday, many people traditionally pray the early morning “vatikin” service of Shavuot at the Western Wall Plaza, while others pray throughout the day of Shavuot.
This year, due to the proximity of Shabbat to the holiday, many are expected to attend prayers throughout Shabbat as well as on Saturday night. Festive prayers will be held led by rabbis, Hasidic leaders, and heads of yeshivas.
In anticipation of the increased number of worshippers, partition barriers were placed in the upper section of the Western Wall Plaza to enable prayer gatherings throughout the entire area, thereby allowing prayers to take place throughout the Western Wall Plaza.
“It should be noted that thanks to the donations of valuable Torah scrolls in recent years, hundreds of prayer quorums will have access to numerous Torah scrolls,” the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said. “Torah scrolls will not be permitted to be brought into the plaza according to the regulations of the Western Wall Plaza.”
Various ‘chesed’ organizations will provide refreshments and drinks along the walking routes for the people making the pilgrimage to the Western Wall.
The public is requested to maintain the sanctity of the Western Wall Plaza, adhere to the instructions of the Israeli police and follow instructions regarding access to the Western Wall Plaza in order to ensure a safe and respectful flow of worshippers,” the Western Wall Heritage Foundation added.
