Authorities warned that if crowding becomes too great, access to Jerusalem’s Old City and the Temple Mount Plaza itself will be barred.

(September 22, 2021 / JNS) Thousands gathered at the Western Wall on Wednesday morning for the traditional Sukkot Priestly Blessing.

Present for the ceremony were Israel’s Ashkenazi and Sephardi chief rabbis, David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef, as well as Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinovitch.

Security and religious authorities warned ahead of time that if the Western Wall Plaza became too crowded, entrance to both the Old City and the plaza itself would be barred. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation has appealed to the public not to attend the blessing on both Wednesday and Thursday, to allow as many people as possible to take part in the ceremony.

The public has been asked not to drive their personal vehicles to the Old City during Sukkot. Transportation options include buses, shuttles and the light rail. Visitors are urged to follow police instructions as well as COVID regulations, including wearing masks at gatherings or prayer ceremonies.

This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.