Yeshiva World NewsWomen Of The Wall Cause Provocation At The Kosel; Maoz Blames Coalition; Shas MK Blames High Court
A group of women from the Women of the Wall group created a provocation at the Kosel on Wednesday morning, Rosh Chodesh Av, by smuggling in a Sefer Torah into the plaza and singing loudly while attempting to hold a Reform-style prayer service.
The move sparked protests from many women at the plaza, who shouted “Shame!” in response to their provocation, blocking the sound of their singing.
Noam Party chairman MK Avi Maoz, who was present at the site, sharply criticized the coalition, saying its leaders bear responsibility for what occurred because they blocked passage of his Kosel bill.
“Unfortunately, we once again are witnessing provocations and the desecration of the Kosel,” Maoz said. “The responsibility lies with the coalition leadership—from the Prime Minister to the Chareidi representatives and the Religious Zionist members—who failed to pass my Kosel bill and complete the legislation. Had the legislation been completed, we would not be witnessing this disgrace today.”
The Kosel bill advanced by Maoz, which passed its preliminary reading, would amend the Protection of Holy Places Law by granting the Chief Rabbinate sole authority to establish the rules governing conduct and tefilla at the Kosel.
However, according to Shas MK Michael Malchieli, the coalition chose not to advance the law after concluding that it would cause further harm to the situation at the Kosel.
Speaking to Kol Chai on Wednesday morning, Malchieli said: “Under existing Israeli law, the Minister of Religious Services already has full authority over the holy places,” he said. “If we had a normal court that ruled according to the law instead of according to its own preferences, there would have been no need for new legislation. The High Court stripped the minister of his authority without any legal basis. Senior legal experts who have dealt with this issue for decades explained to us that a new law could actually do more harm than good and open the door to further damage.”
He added: “The High Court and some legal officials sometimes behave like an opposition faction, looking for ways to undermine anything connected to Judaism or the Chareidi community. We chose the more difficult path—to fight for every opening, enact new regulations, and climb through the window whenever they close the door on us. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring about these solutions.”
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said in a statement: “Alongside the thousands of mispallelim who came this morning for the Rosh Chodesh Av tefillos, marking the period during which we reduce our joy and mourn the Churban of the Beis HaMikdash, the Women of the Wall group turned the Kosel Plaza into a protest site and acted in violation of of both the site’s regulations and court directives by bringing a Sefer Torah into the Kosel Plaza.”
“The Western Wall Heritage Foundation regrets the escalating confrontations of recent months, which intensified even further this Rosh Chodesh, and calls on everyone to stop turning the Kosel Plaza into a protest site. The Kosel is not a place for whistles and shouting, nor is it a place to stage provocations and desecrate its sanctity.”
“On Rosh Chodesh Av, which marks the yahrtzeit of Aharon HaKohen, who loved peace and pursued peace, we call on everyone to treat the Kosel with the respect it deserves and preserve its kedushah in accordance with Jewish tradition.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)