Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 28, 2023 - In preparation for Passover, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation is preparing for the arrival of tens of thousands of visitors from Israel and abroad during the coming month, as well as during the Passover holiday.

As part of the preparations, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation conducted a routine inspection to examine the stones of the Western Wall, in which loose stone parts and seasonal plants were removed to maintain the safety of the millions of worshippers who visit the holy site throughout the year, especially on Jewish holidays.

The procedure is carried out twice a year, on the eve of Passover and on the eve of Rosh Hashanah and includes a comprehensive and thorough manual examination of all the stones of the Western Wall. The team, led by engineers, inspected one stone at a time using a crane, and examined the durability and level of maintenance of the stone, while loose stone parts and seasonal plants were removed. The examination is carried out under the supervision of the rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, in accordance with established halachic restrictions.

The traditional Birkat Kohanim, Priestly Blessing, will take place on Sunday, the 3^rd day of Chol Hamoed - 18 Nissan, 5783 / April 9, 2023, with the participation of the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Rishon LeZion Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi David Lau; the Rabbi of the Western Wall and  Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, hundreds of kohanim from around the country and a large audience.

The event will be held on Sunday, April 9, 2023, 18 Nissan 5723:

• Shacharit: 8:45

• First Birkat Kohanim of Shacharit: 9:15

• Mussaf: 10:15

• Second Birkat Kohanim of Mussaf: 10:30

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation: "These days, we must cleanse from ourselves every chametz of separation and distance and embrace love and unity. There is no more suitable time to be blessed with the exciting and unifying blessing of Birkat Kohanim, when the people of Israel are blessed with the traditional blessing by hundreds of kohanim who gather to pray at the Western Wall along with the tens of thousands of worshippers who make the pilgrimage to pray near the remnant of the Temple."

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation wishes to emphasize to those who are unable to reach the Western Wall Plaza that Birkat Kohanim will be broadcast live on the Western Wall website, with details published closer to the date of the event.

The Old City will be closed to private vehicles throughout the holiday. Please use public transportation. The entrances to the Old City and the Western Wall will be closed if there is congestion. Crowd restriction is the responsibility of the Israel Police and police orders must be obeyed. The public is requested to obey the ushers' instructions for the safety of Western Wall visitors. Please follow the publications and guidelines that are updated from time to time