RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: Women of the Wall: KOTEL: JEWISH RENEWAL

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: Women of the Wall: KOTEL: JEWISH RENEWAL

 

  I   stand with Women of the Wall

Shalom,


We call upon you, the government of Israel, your leaders, your courts and your rabbinic officials to open your hearts to the diversity of Judaism within your borders and around the world. We deeply respect the right of all Jews to pray in accordance with their own minhag (custom) and interpretation of halachah (Jewish law), so long as in doing so, they do not cause harm to others. We support the rights of those Jewish women who choose to not lead worship or carry Torah Scrolls or read from Torah Scrolls to have safe space at the Kotel where they may take part in prayers in accordance with their views of halachah.


We call upon the Mayor and Chief of Police of Jerusalem to provide protection to Women of the Wall as they pray at the Kotel each Rosh Hodesh, rather than harassing them. We call upon the government of Israel and its police forces and military to immediately institute and enforce a zero tolerance policy against attacking women in any way whatsoever, including throwing chairs and feces-filled diapers and other objects at women who pray together at the Kotel on Rosh Hodesh and at other times, as well as the attacking of women anywhere in Israel for carrying traces of their religious observance, such as marks on their arms from wearing tefillin.


We additionally call upon the government of Israel, its leaders, its courts and its rabbinic officials to find appropriate and safe venues at the Kotel for Jews who are not comfortable with women leading worship or holding the Torah or reading from it to enjoy their practice of Judaism unhindered, and physically separated from other designated portions of the Kotel where women are allowed to lead worship, wear a tallit, wear tefillin, hold the Torah and read from the Torah.


Thank you.



Sincerely,
Rabbi ARTHUR SEGAL

Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
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