Jews, Catholics, Protestants gather in J'lem for separate rituals

By JPOST.COM STAFF, AP
Thousands of Jews gathered at the Kotel Sunday morning for the traditional priestly blessing, a remnant of ritual from the Temple. Police closed the Old City to private vehicles for the duration of the event. Simultaneously, Catholics were holding an Easter Sunday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, marking the day of Jesus' resurrection as recounted in the New Testament. The ancient church in Jerusalem's Old City is traditionally believed to be the site of his crucifixion and resurrection. Protestant groups were holding Easter services outside the Old City walls at the Garden Tomb, which some sanctify as the site of the final events of Jesus' life.