Women of the Wall service at the Kotel today, Rosh Hodesh Sivan, were attended by 50 women from Israel and abroad and some 10 men who came to support us.
There was a lot of activity at the Kotel today, probably due to “Jerusalem Day” and Shavuot. A group of young women (who is not part of WOW) started to dance with joy only to be stopped by the police officer at the Kotel, who told them that it is forbidden by a special decree issued by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Administrator of the Western Wall and Holy Sites. Needless to say that, while this was going on several groups of men were dancing in the men’s section.
Yet again we stood at the leading to the plaza gate with the Torah, this too due to “new regulations” issued by Rabbi Rabinowitz.
“If women are silent and passive these prohibitions and decrees will grow, and we will find ourselves being told not only where to go, how to dress, what to say and carry but also how to breath,” said Anat Hoffman chair of Women of the Wall.
Please keep doing what you’re doing… in Halifax, NS, we pray in solidarity with Nashot HaKotel every Rosh Chodesh… and on this particular Rosh Chodesh, two women from our congregation were with you at the Kotel for the very first time. I can hardly wait to hear their experience!