But ultra-Orthodox cabinet members criticised the move, with interior minister Aryeh Deri telling Reuters: “For all the years of its existence, the state of Israel has conducted itself based on traditional Judaism”.
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The Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, will soon have a prayer space for mixed-gender ceremonies and non-Orthodox Jews following a historical Israeli Cabinet decision on Sunday to finally allow such an area. In a joint statement, the Jewish Federations of North America and Reform and Conservative movements said in a new statement that the new space is a critical, dramatic and unprecedented acknowledgment by Israel that the holy site must incorporate traditions of both Reform and Masorti or Conservative streams where both sexes pray together. “For decades, Israel has given full religious authority at the Kotel [the Western Wall] to Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Judaism”. 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.
Leaders of progressive Judaism in the United Kingdom have lauded the “landmark” decision to establish a section of the Western Wall for mixed prayers.
The new prayer space will be along the southern edge of the Western Wall, separated from the current Western Wall plaza prayer site where men and woman pray separately.
“This historic decision recognizes that Jews of every denomination now have a place to pray in a way which is most meaningful to them at Judaism’s most revered site”, said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO.
The Western Wall, in Hebrew known as Kotel, is a remnant of the wall that surrounded the Temple Mount. The ultra-Orthodox establishment has significant political power and maintains a monopoly over daily Jewish life.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed the plan in an attempt to please American Jews, a key source of support for Israel, the Associated Press reported.
Sunday’s Cabinet decision (Jan. 31) will lead to the creation of Israel’s first official prayer site for Jews who wish to pray in mixed-gender groups, and for women who want to read from a Torah scroll. The new site will be created with a new entrance to the Western Wall area, supervised by a new management consisting of different representative members from the Reform and Conservative movements.
The government is to allot millions of dollars to renovate the pluralistic worship area, where liberal groups have been allowed to pray since 2000.
Even though Israelis are favorable toward American Jews and the more liberal streams, they still underestimate their numbers.
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“The prime minister at the end is the prime minister of all Jews in Israel and he also has a very important relationship with Jews of the Diaspora”. And what we have done is liberate another part of the wall that will be open to all.
