CHIEF RABBIS BOYCOT JOINT TOUR WITH REFORM
MK'S, Eichler and Asher, announced they would not take part in the ministry of interiors official tour of the Kotel which is scheduled for Tuesday. chief Rabbis will also abstain from the joined tour with the Reform
- Yackov Grodka
- ו' חשון התשע"ז
הדס פרוש, פלאש 90
First to be reported: on Tuesday Nov. 8 the Israeli ministry of interior will officially be touring the Kotel area. Spearheaded by MK David Amsalem, the tour is meant to find a way to reconcile what has been termed the ‘’Mitveh Hakotel’’ rift.
Sources tell “Chadrei Chareidim” that Harav Hagoan R’ Dovid Lau Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi and Harav Hagoan R’ Yitschok Yosef Chief sefardi Rabbi will not be taking part in the tour, nor will any of their assistants be present. The reason for the boycott by the Rabbanim of the event, is due to the fact that there will also be reform representation on the tour.
“Chadrei Chareidim” has confirmed that the chief Rabbis sent a letter to the head of the Rabanut Harashit, Harav Moshe Dagan, stating their opinion on the matter and inviting the delegation to meet with them after the tour to hear their opinion on the matter.
Earlier on, MK Yackov Asher who was also set to take part in the tour, announced he would not be joining the tour since it would be jointly attended by the reform and the women of the wall groups. MK Yisroel Eichler, who was personally invited by the head of the interior committee, Amsalem, announced that he had no intention of partaking in a tour that would also include representatives from the Reform community.
In response to the sudden abstentions of the Chief Rabbis and MKs, MK Amsalem who is known to be positive towards the chareidi position stated, “the ministry of interior cannot make preferences on whom it invites, the committee is dealing with the issue of davening at the Kotel. It is probably befitting for both parties that are the cause of the rift to attend and be part of this meeting”. Despite the abstentions of the chief Rabbis and MKs, Amsalem has no intention of cancelling the scheduled tour.
It was previously reported (first reported here in “Chadrei chareidim”), that thanks to a petition by the reform and Women of the wall movements, the high court of Israel has given the government and the Kotel Heritage foundation until Thursday November 17. To reply as to why the High Court’s decision of the Mitveh Hakotel has
not been implemented yet.
Another previous report here in “Chadrei Chareidim” states that the original claim was filed by various reform groups including Women of the Wall, the Movement for progressive Judaism in Israel, Traditional movement and Free Israel. The claim was filed against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Rav Shmuel Rabinovits rav of the Kotel, the minister of religious services, the minister of justice, the chief Rabbinite and the Kotel Heritage foundation.
In the most recent claim that they filed, the reformers are calling for mixed davening to be permitted at the Kotel. They request that Either the mitveh Hakotel be implemented or a third plaza should be set aside for the reform and the women of the wall to do as they please.
The petition deals with the Mitveh Hakotel itself which was approved by the government in the begging of 2016. The petitioners claim that the mitveh is not being implemented due to pressure of the Chareidi parties. The original petition was filed three years ago back in 2013, but has been pushed aside until the government’s recent layout plan, since then it has been discussed by the Government and high court .
As previously reported in “Chadrei Chareidim”, in a hearing that took place a month and a half ago the high court criticized the government for not implementing the Mitveh Hakotel. Neor, Chief Judge of the High court, commented that “ things are dragging to no end’’ additionally she states that, ‘’ the real problem is what is actually taking place at the Kotel? Here the things are dragging to no end and no limit. I am under the impression that in this scenario we are expected to take the chestnuts out of the fire (להוציא את הערמונים מהאש ). This is the role of the Government. This is something that has to be moved on to a higher level since we are dealing with the Kotel. Things are not moving along”.
The High court judge Rubenstien added “ What is actually happening? In January, the government came to a decision. Afterwards, various disagreements arose, then at the end of June there was a meeting with the Prime Minister Regarding these installments. Is there a possibility that the Minister of religious affairs will sign them? or is it necessary to take steps towards having someone else should sign them?’’
Rubenstien also commented about the Kotel Heritage foundation and Rav Shmuel Rabinovits, Rav of the kotel. “…. the one who is in charge is the Rav, the Rav has his haskafa, with all due respect, what should we do with the community that doesn’t share the Rav’s Hashkafa. Whoever doesn’t want pluralism can go to the northern plaza, and whoever does should go to the southern. We are a Jewish nation”.
(Translated by Eli B.)
Sources tell “Chadrei Chareidim” that Harav Hagoan R’ Dovid Lau Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi and Harav Hagoan R’ Yitschok Yosef Chief sefardi Rabbi will not be taking part in the tour, nor will any of their assistants be present. The reason for the boycott by the Rabbanim of the event, is due to the fact that there will also be reform representation on the tour.
“Chadrei Chareidim” has confirmed that the chief Rabbis sent a letter to the head of the Rabanut Harashit, Harav Moshe Dagan, stating their opinion on the matter and inviting the delegation to meet with them after the tour to hear their opinion on the matter.
Earlier on, MK Yackov Asher who was also set to take part in the tour, announced he would not be joining the tour since it would be jointly attended by the reform and the women of the wall groups. MK Yisroel Eichler, who was personally invited by the head of the interior committee, Amsalem, announced that he had no intention of partaking in a tour that would also include representatives from the Reform community.
In response to the sudden abstentions of the Chief Rabbis and MKs, MK Amsalem who is known to be positive towards the chareidi position stated, “the ministry of interior cannot make preferences on whom it invites, the committee is dealing with the issue of davening at the Kotel. It is probably befitting for both parties that are the cause of the rift to attend and be part of this meeting”. Despite the abstentions of the chief Rabbis and MKs, Amsalem has no intention of cancelling the scheduled tour.
It was previously reported (first reported here in “Chadrei chareidim”), that thanks to a petition by the reform and Women of the wall movements, the high court of Israel has given the government and the Kotel Heritage foundation until Thursday November 17. To reply as to why the High Court’s decision of the Mitveh Hakotel has
not been implemented yet.
Another previous report here in “Chadrei Chareidim” states that the original claim was filed by various reform groups including Women of the Wall, the Movement for progressive Judaism in Israel, Traditional movement and Free Israel. The claim was filed against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Rav Shmuel Rabinovits rav of the Kotel, the minister of religious services, the minister of justice, the chief Rabbinite and the Kotel Heritage foundation.
In the most recent claim that they filed, the reformers are calling for mixed davening to be permitted at the Kotel. They request that Either the mitveh Hakotel be implemented or a third plaza should be set aside for the reform and the women of the wall to do as they please.
The petition deals with the Mitveh Hakotel itself which was approved by the government in the begging of 2016. The petitioners claim that the mitveh is not being implemented due to pressure of the Chareidi parties. The original petition was filed three years ago back in 2013, but has been pushed aside until the government’s recent layout plan, since then it has been discussed by the Government and high court .
As previously reported in “Chadrei Chareidim”, in a hearing that took place a month and a half ago the high court criticized the government for not implementing the Mitveh Hakotel. Neor, Chief Judge of the High court, commented that “ things are dragging to no end’’ additionally she states that, ‘’ the real problem is what is actually taking place at the Kotel? Here the things are dragging to no end and no limit. I am under the impression that in this scenario we are expected to take the chestnuts out of the fire (להוציא את הערמונים מהאש ). This is the role of the Government. This is something that has to be moved on to a higher level since we are dealing with the Kotel. Things are not moving along”.
The High court judge Rubenstien added “ What is actually happening? In January, the government came to a decision. Afterwards, various disagreements arose, then at the end of June there was a meeting with the Prime Minister Regarding these installments. Is there a possibility that the Minister of religious affairs will sign them? or is it necessary to take steps towards having someone else should sign them?’’
Rubenstien also commented about the Kotel Heritage foundation and Rav Shmuel Rabinovits, Rav of the kotel. “…. the one who is in charge is the Rav, the Rav has his haskafa, with all due respect, what should we do with the community that doesn’t share the Rav’s Hashkafa. Whoever doesn’t want pluralism can go to the northern plaza, and whoever does should go to the southern. We are a Jewish nation”.
(Translated by Eli B.)
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