Slichot

Yom Kippur Eve: 150,000 gather at Western Wall as Iran sends message to the world

The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Gadi Zaig - the top stories, clear and concise.

Jews praying for forgiveness (selichot), at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, on the eve of Yom Kippur, October 1, 2025
Thousands of Jews gather for slihot prayer services at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem, ahead of Yom Kippur, September 15, 2026

Nearly 150,000 people participate in final slihot prayers ahead of Yom Kippur at Kotel

Former hostage Bar Kupershtein attends a conference in Yad Binyamin, central Israel, July 21, 2026.

Ex-hostage Bar Kupershtein marks anniversary of release from Hamas captivity with slichot service

Selichot concert on the rooftop of the historic former Shaare Zedek Hospital

Selichot above Jerusalem: An evening of music, reflection and connection


Against corona regulations, packed services held at Chabad’s headquarters

The Gedaliah Society, a collective of doctors that has been advising Orthodox Jews in Crown Heights during the pandemic, issued a stern exhortation against attending services at Chabad headquarters.

Two religious men stand outside outside the entrance to the world headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at a Brooklyn synagogue in New York.

Thousands attend Selichot prayers at Western Wall despite coronavirus

Penitential prayer services begin every night at 12:30 a.m. with a central event led by a cantor in order to allow all the capsules to pray together.

Selichot at the Western Wall, August 2020

Half a million people take part in mass online prayer against coronavirus

Chief Rabbi of Safed Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: coronavirus pandemic shows that however important world economy is, it cannot trample other values

Hasidic Jewish men gather for a morning prayer outside of a synagogue, closed due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Center Field: People prefer pious piyutim to pitchfork politics

It was that kind of evening.

Slichot at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, September 2018

Israelis sacrifice chickens to atone for their sins - watch

Kapparot involves the transfer of one's sins to something outside oneself in a short but elaborate process.

Kapparot being performed a day before Yom Kippur.

Notes to be removed from Western Wall

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation is getting ready for the annual note-removal before Rosh Hashana.

Slichot at the Western Wall, Jerusalem, September 2018

Of slihot and synagogues ‏

One of the beauties of living in Israel is how Judaism is very much part of our daily culture.

SLIHOT AT the Western Wall: An experience in unity.

Bontche and the naked emperor – a Slihot parable

The constant repetitions, night or day at Slihot or on Yom Kippur, are very hard to take. Am I alone in these thoughts?

‘THE NAKED Emperor,’ stencil graffiti by Edward von Lõngus in Tartu, Estonia.

Slihot tours

Slihot tours originated in the Old City of Jerusalem, but nowadays you can also find tours in Safed, Peki’in, Tiberias, and Bnei Brak.

Safed

Slihot and song

For the first time, the orchestra will host singer and creator Shuli Rand who will present his songs and the Slihot in his sweeping manner.

Benjamin Bouzaglo