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| Scene at the Kotel this Morning (Jewish Press) |
Let us assume that many of the 150 Women of the Wall (WOW) that attend this monthly prayer service are sincere. That their true intentions are simply to be left alone in their form of service to God. While I do question how much of that sincerity is influenced by modern day feminism, I also believe that many of the women in that group are sincere. Even as I disagree with the propriety of doing so for reasons that are beyond the scope of this post.
But it seems that this time it was more than just about WOW praying at the Kotel. From the Jewish Press:
According to a statement by the police spokesperson, it appears to the police that some members of the WOW group entered the main prayer section to purposely cause a provocation, despite requests by police that they pray in the section of the Women’s section set aside for their group.
It has become abundantly clear that this monthly event is a tactic used by WOW leader, Reform Rabbi Anat Hoffman, as a means of gaining legitimacy for her movement in Israel. She is joined by other heterodox groups in that goal. Lest anyone think I am making that up, many of their leaders have admitted that events like the monthly prayers by WOW is just a tool - a means toward that end.
Why are they doing this now? It is no secret that heterodox movements in the Diaspora are either dying – or in some cases (e.g. Reform) are redefining their version of Judaism until it has little semblance to what it has traditionally been.
Why are they doing this now? It is no secret that heterodox movements in the Diaspora are either dying – or in some cases (e.g. Reform) are redefining their version of Judaism until it has little semblance to what it has traditionally been.
This time the Orthodox community was ready for WOW. They showed up in numbers so great, that they practically crowded them out. This was not a coincidence. In an uncharacteristic act of unity with Charedim on this issue - a mass protest was called for by Sephardi and religious Zionist rabbis:
On Thursday, former Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, along with religious Zionist Rabbis Tzvi Yisrael Tau, Shmuel Eliyahu, Yehoshua Shapira and Shlomo Aviner, urged the religious public to hold a counter demonstration. The operation was a success, with the participation of thousands of students who arrived in buses from all over the country.
Now one might say that it is unfair to do this since WOW is technically permitted by the state to hold their monthly prayer service. That is probably why the Kotel Rabbi, Shmuel Rabinovitch addressed the crowd with the following:
Before and during the service, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites of Israel, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, used the public address system to call on the thousands of Haredi worshipers not to turn the holy site into a place of demonstrations, urging the men protesting against the women of the Wall to leave the women’s section and allow them to pray.
That said it is the right of every Israeli to come pray at the Kotel at any time they choose. If WOW wants to counter that next month, they can bus in their supporters and do the same thing. Free country.
But passions are strong on both sides – each believing that they are right. Which generates the equivalent of ‘Road rage’. And that turned into an appalling, Chilul HaShem by young Charedim who began by screaming like wild animals was followed by this (video available here):
Yizhar Hess, director general of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement, was attacked at the plaza by shouts and spittle. He told a Kan reporter: “I am sorry to say that the police is confronting but failing to control the Haredi crowd. I have been here with the women of the Wall for almost ten years and I do not recall this level of violence. They came here all fueled and ready.”Disgusting!
I understand the passion on both sides. But what these young Charedim did is actually advance the cause of legitimizing heterodoxy. They have made Charedi world look like they tolerate if not approve of a bunch of black hatted young thugs who acted like street gangs filled with hate! Which bolsters the heterodox claim that Charedism needs to be counterbalanced by their more dignified approach to Judaism.
Major attendance by mainstream Orhtodx Jews is perfectly legitimate. But in no way should there have been the kind of behavior against WOW or their supporters by anyone. I can’t think of a worse place to make a Chilul HaShem than at the Kotel.
In my view this well intended protest has backfired. WOW should have been left alone as Rabbi Rabinovitch requested. The more attention they get, the more support they will gain from a sympathetic secular public that sees how those young Charedim react. It is not illogical to conclude that their behavior is approved - or at least tolerated by their rabbinic leadership. Especially since this is far from the first time that kind of disgusting behavior has happened. Public outrage at what they saw can easily translate into the kind of support for very thing they are trying to fight: the legitimization of heterodoxy in Israel.
In my view this well intended protest has backfired. WOW should have been left alone as Rabbi Rabinovitch requested. The more attention they get, the more support they will gain from a sympathetic secular public that sees how those young Charedim react. It is not illogical to conclude that their behavior is approved - or at least tolerated by their rabbinic leadership. Especially since this is far from the first time that kind of disgusting behavior has happened. Public outrage at what they saw can easily translate into the kind of support for very thing they are trying to fight: the legitimization of heterodoxy in Israel.