In a strong rebuke to the ultra-Orthodox custodian of the Western Wall, the High Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday that women are not to be subjected any longer to intense body searches when entering the Western Wall.
An egalitarian prayer service at the Western Wall descended into a bad tempered skirmish on Thursday afternoon, when haredi demonstrators sabotaged an event held by the Reform and Conservative Movements to underline their demands for a pluralist prayer space at the site.
Lesley Sachs, director of the provocative Reform group Women of the Wall (WoW), was detained for investigation by Jerusalem district police on Tuesday over suspicions of smuggling a Torah scroll into the women’s section of the Kotel (Western Wall) Plaza.
The Reform storm is still raging: Although the government recently expanded the “non-Orthodox” prayer section at the Kotel, members of the Women of the Wall entered the women’s plaza Monday morning.
Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council harshly criticized Thursday the conduct of Kotel Rabbi, Shmuel Rabinowitz, for his involvement of dividing the Kotel following the government’s approval for expanding the egalitarian prayer section.
Women of the Wall (WoW) held a press conference Sunday at the Western Wall (Kotel) Plaza, following the government’s decision to expand the non-Orthodox mixed prayer section, which was established back in 2013.
The Israeli government is expected to discuss how to handle prayer at the Kotel tomorrow, after Reform groups demand space of their own.
At last 50,000 people filled the Western Wall (Kotel) Plaza Monday, for the Birkat Hakohanim ceremony – the Priestly Blessing.