The Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee held another discussion today (Monday) on the proposed 'Western Wall Law' by Noam Party Chairman MK Avi Maoz, in preparation for its first reading.
The law seeks to enshrine in legislation the exclusive authority of the Chief Rabbinate at the Western Wall and prevent the High Court of Justice from interfering in what is happening there.
The discussion was attended by a number of representatives of public organizations and Diaspora Jewry who expressed support for the law and for preserving the halakhic character of the Western Wall.
The debate was particularly heated, during which there were loud confrontations and disruptions from activists affiliated with the "Women of the Wall" and opposition Knesset members.
Nehemiah Malinowitz, a member of the Zionist Organization's executive board, protested what he called "the use that MK Kariv is making of Diaspora Jewry," saying that he represents a large public of Jews around the world who support preserving the sanctity of the Western Wall in accordance with Halacha.
He said, "We represent millions of Jews who invest in Israel and send their children here. Most Diaspora Jews want to maintain the sanctity of the Western Wall in accordance with Israeli tradition." He further claimed that "the same elements who are working to stop arms shipments to Israel are also those who are trying to desecrate the sanctity of the Western Wall.".
Esther Jacobs of the Zionist Executive Committee spoke about the deep connection of Diaspora Jewry to the Western Wall and emphasized the importance of preserving its sanctity in accordance with Jewish law and tradition. She said that even as women, many Diaspora women see value in preserving the traditional character of the holy place.
MK Tali Gottlieb sharply attacked the activities of the "Women of the Western Wall," claiming that it was "a deliberate defiance and a violation of Israeli tradition." Gottlieb added: "Judaism and Halacha empower women." She warned against the influence of Reform movements, which she said "encourage assimilation and pose a danger to the future of the Jewish people.".
Mina Fenton, a former Jerusalem City Council member, said that she has been coming to pray at the Western Wall on Rosh Chodesh since 1992, and described the ongoing struggle surrounding the activities of the "Women of the Western Wall." According to her, "This is a continuing attack on the regular worshippers and an attempt to change the Jewish character of the place.".
Leah Aharoni, who brings many groups to the Western Wall, claimed that the goal of the protest leaders' activities is to "disintegrate the Jewish identity and the unity of the people that the Wall symbolizes.".
Rabbi Gutteng from England explained in the discussion the importance he sees in praying in separation, saying that "most Jews in the Diaspora understand the meaning of maintaining the sanctity of the place in accordance with the tradition of Israel. This touches our souls and the souls of the entire Jewish people.".
MK Avichai Boaron congratulated MK Maoz for promoting the law and said: "There is one Israeli tradition and it is forbidden to deviate from it in any way.".
Osnat Zohar, a representative of the "Lionesses of the Western Wall" and traditional women, claimed that the struggle around the Western Wall is a "struggle for the Jewish identity of the State of Israel," adding that there are those who seek to "separate Israel from its Jewish and traditional identity and turn it into a state of all its citizens.".
At the end of the discussion, the initiator of the law, Noam Party Chairman, MK Avi Maoz, said: "The Western Wall has been the beating heart of the Jewish people for thousands of years. The State of Israel must preserve it as a holy place that unites the people of Israel according to the tradition of Israel and Jewish law. The time has come to stop the attempts to turn the Wall into an arena of provocations, to enshrine in law the sanctity of the place for generations, and to curb the intervention of the High Court of Justice.".
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