In Our Own Voices

by Rabbi Nina H. Mandel Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5770 Dear Madam: This morning, both you and I went to the … Read more

Her arrest does not even conform to halachic guidelines as laid out by the Talmud and subsequent law codes. There are some myths—let’s set them straight. A woman can not defile a Torah by handling it. A woman is permitted to handle a Torah and to read from the Torah. A woman is permitted to wear tallit and tefilin.

Account of Anat’s Arrest By Chana from Germany Am 12. Juli 2010 kommen etwa 150 Frauen an der Kotel zusammen, … Read more

This morning, a woman was arrested at Judaism’s most holy site, the Western Wall, for carrying a Torah scroll. While I have been doing some work for her organization, Women of the Wall, nothing could have prepared me for the outrage I felt watching several policemen tackle a group of women raising their voices together in prayer, and the admiration I experienced witnessing these women’s bravery.

Anat Hoffman, who is often the most public face of Women of the Wall (Nashot HaKotel) was arrested this morning during WoW’s Rosh Hodesh Av service. It’s not yet clear what the charges are.

Chevre, I am blessed and honored to have been a participant in the davening this morning. As a result of my participation, I am also a firsthand witness to what happened this morning as Anat, carrying the Sefer Torah, attempted to proceed to the area known as Robinson’s Arch, so that we could continue with our Rosh Chodesh celebration.

We bolted up the alternate
staircase and reached the surface in time to see Anat being stuffed
into a police van, her body still curled protectively around the Sefer
Torah pressed against her heart. Again the men were our loudest
voices, bellowing, “B’sho! B’sho” (Shame! Shame!)

Hodesh Tov. I hope you are as outraged as I am by the police actions at the
Kotel this morning against Anat Hoffman, chair of the Women of the Wall
davvening group.

The Torah has been banished from the Kotel. Anat can return in a month.
The Torah seems to have been banished forever.

Chodesh Tov. As you both must know, former Jerusalem City Council member Anat Hoffman, the director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center, and the Chair of Women of the Wall was today, once again, brutally arrested by the Jerusalem police, this time for holding a Torah as she and our group were leaving the Kotel.