Dear Colleagues,
Yesterday, our RA signed and shared a letter calling for the prevention of bloodshed and immediate implementation of the Kotel Agreement in light of the real threats to the Women of the Wall, who pray every Rosh Hodesh at the Western Wall. Rakefet Ginsberg, Executive Director of Masorti Israel, spearheaded the writing of the letter, which you can read on our website here.
The letter was signed by a number of institutions, including our RA, USCJ, Masorti & MERCAZ Olami, the Seminario in Latin America, the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, and more. The Cantors Assembly is also in support of this effort.
Today, Rakefet shared the below update about the Kotel situation. We pray that the Israeli government acts immediately to implement the outline of the Western Wall Agreement.
Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob Blumenthal
Friends,
I would like to update you on the events that took place in the last 48 hours:
In preparation for the Rosh Hodesh Kislev prayer we sent a joint letter, all the bodies of the Conservative movement in Israel and around the world, to the President of Israel, the Prime Minister and Minister of Religious Affairs in a call to implement the Kotel Agreement in order to avoid violence and bloodshed.
Late last night, while the government voted on the budget, the President called and urged MKs Alon Tal and MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv not to come to the Western Wall this morning (Friday). Our path is known to be a path of compromise & solutions - and the Knesset members obliged the president's request out of a desire to lower the flames.
In spite of this, early this morning, tens of ultra-Orthodox men organized by the LIBA Center arrived, and with them thousands of Haredi men who responded to the calls of ultra-Orthodox elected officials and rabbis to come to the Western Wall and interfere with the women's Rosh Hodesh prayer. We showed up this morning to support and strengthen the Women of the Wall, and to do everything possible to prevent violence.
The events were severe and alarming in the face of the size of the roaring and angry crowds. The Israeli police, which secured the event, stood in front of thousands of rioters and prevented severe physical violence, but found it difficult to prevent disturbances made by whistles, physical violence and insults.
When we saw that the situation is escalating, we turned to Ezrat Yisrael (the egalitarian Kotel) where we were surprised to find that the area was occupied by dozens of ultra-Orthodox men who placed a Mehitza and refused to vacate for what seemed like a long time. Upon their departure, many dozens of Haredim arrived with whistles in order to cause a commotion and provoke. These riots delayed the start of the Egalitarian bar and bat mitzvah services which were scheduled to take place at the time.
We hope that now, after the budget has been approved, the Israeli government will fulfill its commitment, and sign the Kotel Agreement as soon as possible.
I want to thank you all for your support and wish you a Hodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom.
Rakefet Ginsberg