The period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is an extremely busy one at the Kotel , with crowds gathering every night for the recitation of selihot penitential prayers said at this time of year to ask for forgiveness and Heavenly blessings for a better year.<br />On Thursday night, a selihot service led by Tzfat Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu is scheduled to be held - but in the wake of the violence in recent days in Jerusalem, many Jews who would have attended are apparently staying home.<br />MK Bezalel Smotrich calls this situation "unacceptable," and in a letter to police, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and the Prime Minister's Office, he demanded Thursday a sharp increase in security personnel at the Kotel and the paths leading to it.<br /><br />"
