The Battle of the Mehadrin Road: The legal advisor to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Attorney Israel Pat, informed the chairman of the Meron Moshav committee, Mordechai Halperin, that he does not have the authority to close the "Derech HaMehadrin" road leading to the Rashbi's Zion on Lag BaOmer to women, despite his claim that the road was paved on private land of the moshav.
Pat's letter was sent in response to a letter Halperin sent on Sunday, in which he attacked the Attorney General's announcement, as sent to the Women's Justice Center representative, that women would be able to walk on the "Mehadrin Road" - and announced: "This is a private road that we own and only we determine who is allowed to pass through it.".
According to Pat, in his letter of response, "it was never claimed that the 'Mehadrin Road,' which was paved at the time by the Maatz company, is part of the association's square." According to him, "this requires proof.".
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Pat adds and writes that even if it is proven that the land is under the control of the cooperative association, it is not owned by the cooperative association, but rather held by it under lease from the Israel Lands Administration, and therefore public law norms apply to it, including the obligation to act with equality and to refrain from any discriminatory or exclusionary conduct against women.
Pat mentions that the state has invested heavily in preparing the road and states again: "The road will be open to all and there will be no impediment to women's access to it.".
Halperin responded to the letter: "Lag BaOmer is not Purim! Come here and try to get women into the way of men. I suggest you deal with serious and practical matters.".
The affair began afterThe Ministry of Religious Affairs sent a letter to the Women's Justice Center, stating that Derech HaMehadrin will also be open on Lag BaOmer for women to cross.
The letter, signed by Attorney Israel Pat, the firm's legal advisor, was sent following a request from representatives of the Women's Justice Center, who claimed that segregation in the public sphere is prohibited. Representatives of the Women's Justice Center demanded that the "Mehadrin Road" in Meron, which was paved for immigrants who do not wish to make the Aliyah on Lag BaOmer to Zion on the main, mixed road, be used by the general public, including women.
Attorney Israel Pat wrote in his letter to the Women's Justice Center: "As conveyed to us by the management of the National Center for the Development of Holy Places, the trust for managing Lag BaOmer events, there is and will be no impediment to women's access to this path, and it is open to all.".
The advisor adds and writes: "Likewise, it will be explicitly stated on the road that it is open to all who are interested.".
