The National Center for the Development of Holy Sites made preparations to accommodate the tens of thousands of visitors arriving at the Kosel Maarovi for tefillas Vosikin and throughout Shavuos while Israel Police positioned large forces to secure all of the routes leading to the Kosel.
One thousand chairs were donated for the numerous mispallelim, many of whom walk many miles. Cold drinks were available on Shmuel Hanovi Street, near the Mandelbaum Crossing. The City of Jerusalem's Department for Improving the City's Appearance installed portable restrooms there. After tefillas vosikin they had a kiddush there. These arrangements have been made for several years by various activists who preferred to remain anonymous.
According to directives issued by the rov of the Kosel, HaRav Shmuel Rabinovitz, a mechitzoh was set up on the upper portion of the Kosel as well, based on safety requirements established by Jerusalem Police. A klaf sefer Yechezkel was placed at the Kosel for the Haftorah. Donated by R' Aryeh Leib Westreicher for the ilui neshomoh of his mother o"h, it joins the sefer Yeshayohu he donated last year.
The City of Jerusalem arranged for the first buses departing from the Kosel at the end of the holiday to take passengers for free. Meanwhile the City launched a cleanup campaign before Shavuos in central locations, personally overseen by Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky, who gave instructions to bolster cleanup efforts throughout the city.
Jerusalem hotels enjoyed a 70 percent occupancy rate on the eve of Shavuos, said City officials, while all rooms were taken at centrally-located hotels. Last year the occupancy rate at this time of year was 50 percent.
