PRIESTLY BLESSING PERFORMED AT WAILING WALL IN JERUSALEM, 1997-04-24 (photo)

A Jewish man holds his prayer shawl over his head as he performs the "Priestly Blessing" while turning his back to the Wailing Wall (R) April 24. The Priestly Blessing, or the prayers of the Cohenim, are recited twice yearly during the holidays of Passover and Succoth. Jewish families named Cohen, or derivatives of Cohen, are thought to be the descendants of the high priests of the ancient temple and turn away from the wall so as to extend the blessing to those assembled who are not Cohens. Other Jews, center, cover their heads as a boy watches the blessing. ISRAEL PASSOVER