Jerusalem – Chairwoman of the Women of the Wall activist group Anat Hoffman was arrested Tuesday night for disturbing the peace by singing out loud at the Western Wall.
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Hoffman, along with 250 women from the movement and from the Hadassah organization went to the site for a prayer service for the new Jewish month.
She was held overnight and released after 12 hours in police custody, and issued with a restraining order banning her from visiting the Western Wall for 30 days.
Two more women, Lesley Sachs, Director of Women of the Wall and board member Rachel Cohen-Yeshurun, were arrested Wednesday morning at another women’s prayer service.
They were detained and questioned for several hours and subsequently released.
Several similar incidents have occurred in recent months
In a press statement, the group said that it remains “committed to their struggle to gain the right of all women to pray at the Kotel, each according to her own custom, with Torah, Tallit and voices raised in song.”
Israeli law, upheld by the Supreme Court, stipulates that it is forbidden to conduct a religious ceremony “contrary to accepted practice” at a holy site, or one that may “hurt the feelings of other worshipers.”
Content provided as courtesy by The Jerusalem Post
Vata’an Lahem Miryam “Shiru L’hashem Ki Gaoh Ga’ah” – Shemot 15:21.
Vatashar Devora u’Varak Ben Avinoam – Shofetim 5:1
They don’t get it. What I don’t get is if they’re okay with making up their own rules, why not simply erect a wall of their own some place where they can dress as they wish, sing their hearts out and do whatever else it is that tickles their fancy.
I’m a feminist type myself. Really. But I’ll tell you a secret: The best thing, for all concerned, would be to just ignore these people. I know its hard. But the truth is that if they dont get the headlines this will all peter out.
Let them sing!
She could have at least covered herself better with the tallis.
or one that may “hurt the feelings of other worshipers.”
This “Law” certainly can become a double edged sword.
Anyone who is upset by women davening at the kosel has issues to deal with. I’d rather they be davening in whatever nusach they wish at whatever decibel level they wish rather than out shopping or running around the beach in very untzinusdik bathing suits. They are doing no harm to anyone and should be left alone.
Suggestion No.1: Let them do their thing on the other side of the Kotel.
Suggestion No. 2: How dare we call them the Women of the Wall. I presume that the noshim tzidkonius that are at the Kotel every day saying Tehilim earnestly have a much greater connection to the “Wall,” as opposed to these self-promoting publicity-seeking imposters. Instead, call them the Women of the Moon for their showing up once a month. I hope legitimate lady witches do not get offended.
The secular gave up the wall in the first place and they’d do it again for a phony peace treaty. In 1948, BenGurion of less than blessed memory did not want to take the Jewish Quarter and instead let the Arabs have it. The charedim davened there quietly and respectfully from the beginning of the yishuv hayoshon. It was “religious” tzioini gangsters who caused the friction between Arabs and Jews there.
These women clothe their exhibitionism in religious devotion. Consider: I have the “right” to use a men’s mikva but it is arguably violative of the rights of others for me to publicly disrobe before using one of the mikvas opposite the section of the kotel where these exhibitionists exhibit. The members of my organization, Men at the Mikva, “remain committed to their struggle to gain the right of all men to immerse at the Kotel, each according to his own custom, with Torah, Tzitzis and voices raised in song.”
They all apear ridiculous. That talis surely hides her figure.
I guess they don’t believe in dina demalchusa dina.
I hope people realize that this makes us look like Taliban in the eyes of the world. There are plenty of stories of Gedolim who made it their business to walk away or wait outside their own houses, rather than dreaming of disturbing women, even a cleaning lady, who wants to sing.
In addition, there may be heterim for them to sing as part of davening anyway.
There is something really wrong here.
I know this lady and before you go crazy on her, know the following;
She was born in Chicago and she’s a total nut job, got thrown out of many schools in her younger days, has very few friends, and most of her family doesn’t even acknowledge her anymore.
She doesn’t even have a nice voice.
Another words- a total loser.
rashis daughter wore tefilin
You let a few in, and there goes the neighborhood.
Where did I hear that line before.
What does say about the role of frum Jews in the zionist medinah.
There is an old story about the Baal Shem Tov. One day a poor, ignorant peasant boy wandered into the Baal Shem Tov’s shtibel, and suddenly began to jump and do handsprings in front of the aron hakodesh. The Hasidim wanted to escort him out of the shul but the Baal Shem Tov said “Loz em shrpingen un tanzen, Der Oibershter gleicht zein avodah, he tut dos fun ganzen harzen.”
What a disgusting פרוצה
They should lock her up for mor
All these commentors who think they are doing the RBSH a great favor by sticking up for the RBSH’s honor should kindly take a look at the last Rashi in Yisro. Rashi says clearly that the entire purpose of kovod hamikdash is to serve as an example for kovod habriyos. Some people here would do the exact opposite; protect kovod hamikdash at the expense of the kovod of these women.
If they were doing something violent like spitting at the Kosel, I could see arresting them for vandalism. But for DAVENING???
We have got a long way to go before we are ready for Moshiach.
We have truly done the Taliban proud.
To #19 Didn’t Michal?
This picture of police coming to arrest these harmless ladies for davening is very very disturbing. No different than how they arrest women for driving in Saudi Arabia.