SPOTLIGHT: WOMAN OF THE WALL
Noa Mazor
Age: 33
Citizenship: Israeli
Occupation: Rabbinical student
1) Why did you come pray with WOW for Rosh Chodesh Adar?
I came to pray with Women of the Wall on Rosh Chodesh Adar for the same reason that I have prayed with them for the past year and half: the public presence of women in every place especially in places of holiness and Jewish tradition are very important to me. The reality that existed six months ago, that the police were arresting women just for wearing tallit and ultra-Orthodox people were harassing and attacking the Women of the Wall, emphasizes the need for meaningful women’s prayer. Once I started going, I immediately felt that I belonged to the community, and I feel an obligation to pray with and support Women of the Wall each month.
2) What’s one positive experience you had at Rosh Chodesh Adar? All of the t’filah in the recent past has been wonderful. It was simply a beautiful service.
3) What’s one negative experience you had at Rosh Chodesh Adar? I didn’t have any.
4) What’s your wish for the future of the Kotel? I hope that there will be three sections in the Kotel plaza itself so that everyone will be able to pray according to his or her custom. Of course, I hope that each section will permit those who pray there to wear tefillin or read Torah if they so choose.