Hundreds protest policy moves against non-Charedi Jews
Demonstrators gathered outside the Prime Minister's residence to protest the freezing of the Kotel agreement and conversion bill
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem to protest the freezing of the Western Wall agreement and the conversion bill.
The protesters, who gathered in Jerusalem Saturday night, carried signs with slogans like “Judaism without coercion,” and “We are all Women of the Wall.”
The demonstration was organised by liberal movements of Judaism and the Women of the Wall multi-denominational prayer group, which has spent decades advancing egalitarian prayer at the wall, known in Israel as the Kotel.
“We came to the wall every month. We ‘voted with our feet.’ We fought for equality. The prime minister understood. That’s why he initiated the negotiations. That’s why he brought the agreement to a vote. It gave us hope. Hope for democracy. Hope for the people of Israel,” Anat Hoffman, chairwoman of Women of the Wall, said in an address to the crowd. “But suddenly, he changed his mind. Suddenly, he gave in to the ultra-Orthodox. To those Jews who see themselves only. Who will keep biting and biting, whatever possible, at other people’s expense. Those who think that people who don’t pray the way they do, are not Jews.”
She also said: “It’s time for women to wake up. It’s time for secular Jews to wake up. And all religious Jews like us, who believe in sharing space with everyone. Those of us who believe in equality must wake up. Because today, it’s the Kotel agreement. And tomorrow it’s everything else.”
The demonstration began after the end of Shabbat with a Havdallah service and religious songs.
“The cry from the Israeli street and from the Jewish communities cannot be underestimated,” Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, told the crowd.”We will not allow an ultra-Orthodox monopoly in the field of conversion and we will not give up until the full implementation of the Western Wall outline is reached.”
Israel’s Cabinet last week froze a previous government decision to expand a non-Orthodox prayer section at the Western Wall. The same day a ministerial committee approved a bill that would have made the Charedi-dominated Chief Rabbinate the only body authorised by the government to perform conversions in Israel. On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the legislation will not be considered for six months while a “team” he will appoint comes up with recommendations for an “arrangement” on the issue.
Join us!
Posted by Women of the Wall Nashot HaKotel on Saturday, 1 July 2017
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
