Western Wall hosted Birkat Kohanim on 1 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 02:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Western Wall hosted the second Birkat Kohanim ceremony of Sukkot on 1 October 2026 in Jerusalem, bringing worshippers to the prayer plaza for the traditional Priestly Blessing. The event formed part of a two-date programme organised by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, with the first ceremony held on 28 September.
Birkat Kohanim brought a second Sukkot gathering on 1 October
The Foundation’s programme listed morning prayers at 8.45am, the first Birkat Kohanim at 9.30am, additional prayers at 10.15am and a second blessing at 10.30am. The official notice placed every part of the programme at the Western Wall Plaza and said the events would be broadcast live.
The second gathering took place on Thursday, 1 October 2026, during Chol Hamoed Sukkot. The Foundation’s programme for 1 October said the additional ceremony was intended to allow people who missed the first gathering to attend. Israel National News reported that tens of thousands participated in the second ceremony at the plaza, where prayers also included thanksgiving and appeals for safety.
The Western Wall Plaza links the ceremony to Second Temple history
The Western Wall is one of the four supporting walls of the Temple Mount that remain from the period after the destruction of the Second Temple. Its exposed stones preserve several historical layers, while the plaza in front of them functions as a place of prayer and as a setting for formal ceremonies.
The wall is 488 metres long, although only parts are visible above ground. The official visitor information records 45 courses of stone, with 28 above ground and 17 beneath the plaza. The lower layers are mostly original stones from the Second Temple period, while other courses reflect later restoration. That mixture gave the 1 October ceremony a setting in which a contemporary religious gathering took place beside masonry spanning several historical periods. The Foundation’s visitor information also identifies the Western Wall Heritage Foundation as the governmental body established in 1988 to preserve and develop the site and its tunnels.
What the October ceremony meant for the Jerusalem site
Birkat Kohanim is a recurring Sukkot ceremony, but the 2026 programme divided it between 28 September and 1 October. The split made the second date a specific access point for visitors who were in Jerusalem during the latter part of the festival. A report from the second ceremony described worshippers gathering during the Shacharit and Musaf prayers at the Western Wall Plaza.
The same report said the ceremony included chapters of Hallel and prayers of thanksgiving. The Foundation’s programme also listed a separate Hakafot Shniyot gathering at the plaza for 3 October 2026, but the 1 October Birkat Kohanim ceremony is the event that provides the current news peg for this report.
Visiting Western Wall: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The second Birkat Kohanim ceremony took place at the Western Wall Plaza on 1 October 2026, during Sukkot.
- The listed programme included morning prayers, two Priestly Blessings and additional prayers; the ceremony itself has ended, while the plaza remains a prayer and heritage site.
- The site is in Jerusalem’s Old City, and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation provides visitor information for the plaza and the Western Wall Tunnels.
- The exposed wall contains different stone layers, and the plaza officially serves as a synagogue. Visitors should follow instructions from ushers and security personnel during large gatherings.
- Israel’s official languages are Hebrew and Arabic, and the national currency is the Israeli new shekel.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Western Wall
When did Birkat Kohanim take place at the Western Wall?
The second Sukkot ceremony took place on 1 October 2026 at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem.
What is the Western Wall?
It is a western supporting wall of the Temple Mount, with surviving stone layers from the Second Temple period and later restoration.
Where is Western Wall and how do you get there?
The Western Wall is in Jerusalem’s Old City. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation provides visitor information for the plaza, the tunnels and access arrangements.
