Reply #18: Women's prayer at WW [View All]

[Gimel]

You are perhaps recalling the group of women who want to pray in a non-traditional (for women) ceremoney. That would include tallit (prayer shawl) usually reserved for men. A court case decision allows the group to pray in a specific area near the Wester Wall.

The Supreme Court ruled this morning on a petition by the "Western Wall Women" who wish to conduct monthly public prayer services for women at the site, including Torah reading, prayer shawls (tallitot) and tefillin. Such practices are not in keeping with normative Jewish Law, and the women's previous attempts to pray at the wall in this fashion aroused strong protests by worshipers there. The latter maintained that the women's actions were provocative and religiously offensive to those present.
<snip>

State representatives claimed that the women's prayers caused a "disturbance of the peace." The women claimed that they have a right to pray as they wish at the site.

The Court ruled this morning that the government must set aside an area in the vicinity of Robinson's Arch - the southern end of the Western Wall, towards the Dung Gate entrance - and prepare it for the women's prayers within a year. If the area is not ready by the deadline, the Court ruled, the police must make arrangements for the women to pray in the actual Western Wall plaza.

<snip>

More