Unsurprisingly, this year's focus was the hostages and their families.

More than 30,000 people came to take part in the Birkat Hacohenim, which in Hebrew means "Priestly Blessing" this Passover, and cried out for the return of the Hamas-held hostages and peace for the State of Israel.

The attendees came from around the world to bless and be blessed. This year, that included families of the hostages.

Sigi Cohen's son Eliya was wounded and taken hostage into Gaza in the Hamas-led massacre and kidnappings of October 7th.

"We came to the Kotel to the priestly blessing, because Eliya is a cohen (from the priestly line) and he couldn't come to participate in the priestly blessing, so we were invited here by the Rabbi of the Western Wall, to come to hear the priestly blessing and to pass on the power of the blessing that was here today to Eliya and all the hostages that are in Gaza 0:41 that they'll be strengthened by this blessing until Eliya, with the help of God will return to us, Cohen told CBN News.

In the Book of Numbers, God gives Moses and Aaron these words to bless the children of Israel:

"The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."

While The Aaronic Benediction or Blessing is a daily part of Jewish prayers, this public tradition at the Wall happens twice a year—during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) and Passover.

Jewish men who are believed to be of the priestly line come to bless the people of Israel. The last collective priestly blessing at the Western Wall was during Sukkot last fall, just days before the October 7th Hamas attack.

Sigi Cohen felt it was important to come and intercede for her son.

"I think the prayers that we are praying, they are drawing all the hostages to return to us, and that's the most substantial thing, because only the Holy One, only our Father that is in Heaven, can return them to us," Cohen stated. "There is no one else but Him. He is the only One that can bring them home. He's the only all-powerful One who can bring them back." (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

In addition to the priestly blessing, there were special prayers for the captives in Gaza, the more than 100,000 Israelis displaced from their homes due to attacks, the wounded, the families of those who have died, the IDF soldiers, and the security of the State of Israel.

Cohen shared, "We are praying that in this month of Nissan (on the Jewish calendar), that is the month of redemption, when the people of Israel were redeemed, and with the help of God, they will be redeemed again. We pray to God that He will redeem all the hostages, (and) the daughters and sons will return to their homes healthy and whole, with the help of God."

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz of the Western Wall thanked God for standing with Israel during the missile attack from Iran earlier in April. He said God performed miracles for Israel when He brought them out of Egypt, and so, Israel must be thankful. He also asked that God remove His anger from Israel. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Click Here to watch the CBN News video report on this.

Julie Stahl is a correspondent for CBN News in the Middle East.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Unsung Hero', Go See This Movie If You Get a Chance; a Beautiful Story of a Wonderful and Famous Christian Music Family

Nolte: Exclusive—71 Percent Want Disney to End LGBTQ Agenda, Brand in Freefall

Chick-fil-A Set to Convert Strip Club, Site of Recent Murder into a New Restaurant

Wow! Man Points Gun at Pastor Delivering Sermon, What Happened Next Is a 'Miracle'

US Service Members Waiting for Congress and Department of Defense to Acknowledge COVID Shot Mandate Was Unlawful and Harmful

No Deal with Hamas as Israel Marks Holocaust Remembrance Day

Trump Hit With 10th Gag Order Violation, Judge Weighs Jail Time

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Bans Woke Indoctrination in Teacher Training Programs

Arizona Dem Governor Katie Hobbs Repeals State's Near-Total Abortion Ban

'Darkness Doesn't Stand a Chance': A Great Multitude Takes Part in 2024 National Day of Prayer

City of Muenster in Texas Becomes 69th 'Safe Haven' City for the Unborn in the US

Clues: US Anti-Israel Protests Fueled by Major Foreign Funding; Backed by Iran, Hamas

Top Biden DOJ Official Busted for Lying About Past Arrest

Victory for Election Integrity: Court Blocks Undated Ballots

Trump Visits FDNY Station after Court, Buys Them Pizza. Their Response: 'Save Us, Please!'

EDUCATE Act Would Ban DEI Indoctrination in Medical Schools

DeSantis Declares Florida 'Will Not Comply' With Biden Rule Forcing 'Gender Identity' On Schools

House Bill, 'Passed With Overwhelming Support,' Would Criminalize Parts of the Bible, and Violate the Constitution

'We're Going to Light Up This World': National Day of Prayer to Lift God's Word to Combat Darkness

Trump's TIME Interview: Leftist Media is Triggered, But 'Liberty-Minded Americans' Give a Thumbs-Up