More than 15,000 mispallelim participated in the Birchas Kohanim at the Kosel on Sunday morning, the first weekday of Chol Hamoed for the Diaspora.

Yerushalayim District Police officers were stationed along with Border Police forces in the area since early on Sunday morning amid increasing security tensions at Yerushalayim’s holy sites.

Harav Yitzchak Yosef and Harav David Lau, Israel’s Sephardi and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbis, both attended the Birchas Kohanim event.

The bi-annual Birchas Kohanim is organized by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation on Chol Hamoed Pesach and Sukkos. Thousands stream to the Kosel Plaza to take part in this unique experience.