Orthodox Umbrella Group Denounces Western Wall Compromise as ‘Profane’

Israel on Sunday approved a plan that would dramatically change the layout of Jerusalem’s Western Wall plaza, one of the holiest sites in Judaism, creating a space for egalitarian prayer and mixed-gender ceremonies for non-Orthodox Jews.

Netanyahu called the agreement to create the new non-Orthodox prayer section of the Western Wall “a historic compromise that ensures that the Western Wall will continue to be a source of unity and inspiration for the entire Jewish people”. He added that he had been awake at 3:30 a.m. speaking to Israeli officials through Skype about the vote. They resist any inroads from liberals often considered to be second-class Jews who ordain women and gays and are overly inclusive toward converts and interfaith marriages.

While the traditional men’s and women’s sections are at the northern end of the wall, the mixed section will be erected at its southern end.

The Women of the Wall group, which fights for women’s rights to pray at Judaism’s holiest accessible site, hailed the cabinet decision.

Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Western Wall, said he received news of the decision “with a heavy heart and a sigh of relief”, acknowledging the Wall had gone “from being a unifying site to one of incessant quarrels”.

Last year, the government undid sweeping reforms its predecessor pushed forward aimed at easing conversion to Judaism and weakening the grip of Israel’s Orthodox establishment.

Under the plans approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, a section which was designated for mixed-prayer in 2013 will double in size to accommodate 1,200 worshippers at a cost of £6m ($8.5m).

“This is really groundbreaking for both women’s rights and Jewish pluralism in Israel”, said Shira Pruce, spokeswoman for the group Women of the Wall.

But the compromise agreement also highlights the deep rift between the world’s two largest Jewish communities over how religion should be practiced in the Jewish state, where ultra-Orthodox control is entrenched over religious life. The new area will be managed by a committee including representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements.

It was celebrated as a major victory by progressive Jews, including Reform and Liberal Judaism in the United Kingdom, and by Masorti and Conservative Judaism in the USA, as well as by supporters of Women of the Wall, an Israeli pressure group which has spent years campaigning for women’s access to pray. This whole problem of the Reform and Conservatives has not existed in the State of Israel until now, and I have no intention that it will occur now. “There is more than one way to connect to Jewish traditions and identity”.

Sheikh Yousef Adeis, Palestinian Waqf and Religious Affairs Minister, said that the plan is seen by Palestinians as another attempt by Israel to expand the Jewish presence and assert its dominance over the flash point Temple Mount complex, said Haaretz. Netanyahu distanced himself from the comments.