What we know about Israel’s decision on Western Wall prayers

Bennett declined to say whether the decision would lead to additional recognition for religious pluralism in Israel or equal funding for non-Orthodox institutions and rabbis.

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.

The group which calls itself Women of the Wall, and who fights for the right to pray at the holiest accessible site in Judaism, welcomed the decision of the cabinet. Most religious rites take place in the men’s section in accordance with centuries-old Orthodox standards that hold sway in Israel.

Still, ultra-Orthodox rabbis strictly govern Jewish practices in Israel such as weddings, divorces and burials. 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.

Under the compromise approved by the Cabinet-with the five representatives of Orthodox parties outvoted by 15 non-Orthodox ministers-the existing prayer area will remain unchanged, with separate areas for men and women.

The Western Wall is venerated by Jews as a remnant of a wall supporting the Second Temple complex, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Women of the Wall also demanded an end to ultra-orthodox bans on women praying aloud, reading from the Torah and wearing traditional prayer shawls, known as tallit. There are separate men’s and women’s prayer sections.

After a year-long debate, the Israel cabinet voted to establish a section of the Western Wall, originally a wall of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, for mixed prayers.

The cabinet also voted through an upgrade of the Southern Wall section, also known as Robinson’s Arch, and to anchor the agreement in law.

Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky previously proposed plans for a single entrance to the Western Wall plaza from which worshippers can access an egalitarian prayer area.

 Many commentators have seen the dispute over the Western Wall and the rules governing it as part of a larger struggle within Judaism and Israeli society between ultra-Orthodox Jews and non-Orthodox elements of society.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “creative solution” that would “unify the people of Israel”.

The new prayer section which will be completed at a date yet unspecified will be managed by a committee consisting of government officials and “Women of the Wall”.

The religious-nationalist government past year canceled reforms meant to ease conversion to Judaism, unraveling painstaking efforts by the previous government to weaken the grip of Israel’s Orthodox establishment.

While the new prayer space is a partnership between religiously liberal Jews and the government, Schonfeld said, “we don’t view this as something the government is doing for the Diaspora”.

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