Priestly Blessing

Waving the 4 species
at the Wailing Wall
this morning

It's the day of the Priestly Blessing ... called Birkat Kohanim in hebrew ... at the Wailing Wall this morning. I have only missed it once 4 years ago when I was sick. It takes place on the 3rd day of Succoth and all the jewish priests come to bless the nation with Aaron's blessing. The Wailing Wall plaza was packed with people ... as many gentiles as there were jews. Many have come to see this ancient ritual that goes back 2000 years when the temple was still standing. The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and so the priests no longer have a job except to give the blessing.

I woke up at 3am to prepare for this trip (the Wailing Wall is about 600 meters from my house). After doing all I needed to do - answering emails and messages, tidying the bed, shower etc... I celebrated Mass at 5am. Then it was doing some work till 8.15am when my students sent me a message saying they were on their way to the Wall. So I quickly went out to join them.

A father lays hands on his
sons while the priests bless
the people

At the Wall over a dozen of my students were waiting ... and there was a big crowd at the plaza. I did some explanations of the ritual and answered their questions. Then I encouraged them to take photos with the local jews praying with their 4 species (palm frond, cigars, myrtle and willow)as my students were afraid they might offend the jews. I told them that they were more than happy to have their photos taken ... which is true. Many posed for photos! According to the prophet Zachariah, pagans from all over the world will come to Jerusalem and celebrate the feast of Succoth with the jews. For this reason the jews are tolerant in allowing non-jews like us to join them at the Wailing Wall and take their pictures and pray with them.

It was an extraordinary experience ... the blessing being the only remaining institution of the Temple since its destruction 1930 years ago. It was like going back in time. This was the blessing Jesus gave his disciples as he ascended into heaven (see Luke 24). I promised my jewish friends who are working today that I'll go get the blessing for them ... and also for all of you. Hope the coming year will be filled with good things from God to all of you.