Rabbinical Assembly Unhappy about WOW Arrests
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The WOW group praying at the Kotel. Soon, they can pray as they wish, but not at the main Western Wall Plaza
Photo Credit: Michal Fattal / WOW
Following Monday’s arrest of 10 women praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Conservative Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Assembly (the international association of Conservative rabbis), called for “a quick solution that respects religious pluralism and women’s equality.”
An assembly press release stated that Schonfeld has been an outspoken critic of the treatment of non-Orthodox Jews at the wall. Among those arrested this time were RA members Debra Cantor of B’nai Tikvoh-Sholom in Bloomfield, Conn., and Robyn Fryer Bodzin of the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism in Flushing, N.Y.—both Conservative rabbis. In response to the arrests, Schonfeld declared:
“Today’s arrests at the Western Wall are a deeply concerning development at a time when we were hopeful for real progress on religious pluralism and women’s equality at this sacred site. It is unthinkable that in 2013, Israel is still denying the religious freedom of Jews wishing to express their faith without fear of being detained. Today’s action once again divides the Jewish community’s unity and drains energy away from crucial issues demanding our attention.”
Adding to Schonfeld’s comments, Conservative Rabbi Gerald C. Skolnik, president of the Rabbinical Assembly issued the following statement:
“I am proud of rabbis Bodzin and Cantor and all those who were willing to put their personal freedom at risk today on behalf of all of us. Rabbi Cantor, one of the first women ordained by our movement, and Rabbi Fryer Bodzin, ordained in 2005, embody the immeasurable contribution that women make to the Conservative Rabbinate and world Jewry. “
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If the WOW want equal rights at the Kotel then the government should require that they adhere to the same requirements/conditions that are imposed on the men who pray at the Kotel. One of those required conditions of the men is circumcision. I understand that Germany is cutting up a storm in female circumcision these days.
Yes, Yehuda, I think that Conservative Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Assembly (the international association of Conservative rabbis), should set an example in this regard as you mentioned for other to follow.
Yes, Yehuda, I think that Conservative Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Assembly (the international association of Conservative rabbis), should set an example in this regard as you mentioned for others to follow.
The Rabbinical Assembly is simply a vestige of a dying movement.The State of Israel does not consider them to be rabbis.The rich liberal Jews want to dictate from the comfort of the Upper East Side.
The vulgar and woman-hating comments posted here speak for themselves. And for the hateful people who posted them. These woman are not only rabbis, but are sisters, mothers and wives. Your comments are disgusting, and bring you shame. They are also quite similar to the attitudes toward women within the Taliban.
This is why liberals have no credibility.The Taliban murder people. Are you saying Mr.Blum that the people who post comments that support Jewish law are murderers?These women could not compete with Bar Mitzva boys in Mea Shearim (who are five minutes away from the Kotel) in Talmud or Bible.Just becauase somebody is your mpother,sister or wife doesn't make them a rabbi.