Women detained at Western Wall

[tropaka]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/fe ... stern-wall

Israeli police detained 10 women, including the sister of the American comic Sarah Silverman, as they tried to pray at a Jerusalem holy site, the head of a liberal Jewish women's group said.

Anat Hoffman, who was among those detained, said the women were stopped because they were wearing religious garb that Orthodox Judaism reserves for men only. The incident occurred at the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites.

Silverman's sister Susan, a Jerusalem rabbi from the liberal Reform stream of Judaism, was detained along with her teenage daughter.

Sarah Silverman wrote on her Facebook page that she was "SO proud" of her sister and niece for their "civil disobedience". The original post included more explicit language typical of Silverman's humour.

The women belong to "Women of the Wall", a liberal group that goes to the Western Wall each month to worship. They conduct certain rituals, such as wearing prayer shawls and skullcaps and singing out loud, practices reserved for men under strict Orthodox interpretations of Judaism. Hoffman, who was among those detained, is chairwoman of the group.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the women were detained because they acted against court-ordered regulations that bar women from wearing prayer shawls at the Western Wall so as not to offend Orthodox Jewish worshippers. Rosenfeld said the women were released after several hours.

[MarthaMarcyMayMarlen]

Good for those women for taking a stand.

[ceg045]

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the women were detained because they acted against court-ordered regulations that bar women from wearing prayer shawls at the Western Wall so as not to offend Orthodox Jewish worshippers. Rosenfeld said the women were released after several hours.

God forbid! Literally. :roll:

[crazyforkate]

The next fundamentalist children's classic: Don't Let the Vagina! Don't Let the Vagina Near the Prayer Wall, Don't Let the Vagina Speak at Services, Don't Let the Vagina Sit Next To You On the Bus! A great tool for teaching fundie kids of all types the fearsome threat of vaginas everywhere!

...sorry, went on a tangent there. But seriously, anything that eliminates women from full participation in religious life makes me stabby. What is the big effing deal, guys? Are you just scared we're going to overwhelm your precious powers, and that we'll be in control? We won't menstruate on the altar. Promise.

[AuntCloud]

Ah, that's a classic. They're offended by every. single. frigging. little. thing.

And they somehow guilt others into submitting to their ridiculous demands, because they're so special and their sensitivities are so much heightened above us numbnuts. "So, what's wrong with a little tradition? do you think it's a bad thing when Jewish kids learn about their roots?"

And on and on it goes. Kudos to the brave women who faced a crowd of hostile men.

[Moonbeam]

It's amazing to me that the orthodox Jews in Israel have so much control that they can get that kind of a ban passed. I don't think they represent the majority of the population. Are there any FJers in Israel?

[sparkles]

Anat Hoffman is going to be the Scholar in Residence at a Reform synagogue near me soon and even this staunch atheist would love to hear her speak. I admire women who challenge misogynist bullshit that tries to dress itself up as religious tradition.

[AuntCloud]

It's amazing to me that the orthodox Jews in Israel have so much control that they can get that kind of a ban passed. I don't think they represent the majority of the population. Are there any FJers in Israel?

Was, until a few years ago.

As I said, pressure pressure and more pressure. It has to do with the Israeli multi-party system that gives smaller parties a ridiculous amount of power, as they can make or break a coalition. This is how extortion begins.

[YPestis]

It's amazing to me that the orthodox Jews in Israel have so much control that they can get that kind of a ban passed. I don't think they represent the majority of the population. Are there any FJers in Israel?

I was surprised as well. As an American, it's unfathomable to me that a more conservative group could usurp the right for others to worship in a slightly different manner. Not even fundies here would think to ban female pastors in public places. Was this law passed based on security concerns? Or was this due to the disproportionate power that Orthodox Jews hold? Can an Israeli or someone familiar with Israeli politics explain how this came to be?

[Soldier of the One]

Crazy mysogyny at the Wall? Oh Gosh, it must be Rosh Chodesh...

Good for those brave, brave women! Anat is a hero!