There has been a recent
development near the Temple Mount. While Visiting Israel last month, I went to see the Kotel
(the Western Wall) where Jews are allowed to pray. I noticed first hand that access to the wall is divided. Only men are allowed to pray on one side; and only women on
the other. However, there was
a proposal to introduce a third area that would allow mixed access for men and
women to pray together in a new and expanded area near Robinson’s Arch, but
the plan was rejected yesterday by the Israeli government.
The Western
Wall is presently governed by the Western Wall Heritage
Foundation and overseen by an Orthodox synagogue. The
idea of a mixed area for men and women to pray together was put forward to the
Israeli government by a number of American Jewish leaders such as The Jewish Federations of North America
and other Reform and Conservative movements.
On January 31, 2016
the plan seemed to win the support among Israeli President Netanyahu and
members of his cabinet, but news out of Jerusalem on June 26, 2017 reports that the
government has now rejected the plan. This has created tensions between the two groups. A number of questions arise! Is it a difference between conservative and liberal
ideals? Is it a religious struggle? Is it political? Is it something of both? Or is it that we do not have all the facts? It will be interesting to see how this story
unfolds.
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