I am a secular Jewish woman, who came on Aliyah from SA 47 years ago and have always lived in Jerusalem, a city which is dear to me. However, over the past two decades, I felt so sad to see the deterioration of tolerance the Haredi community has for others living in this city. The control of the Kotel is only one of the ongoing symptoms of exclusion which secular Jews have to suffer. The Shabbat violent demonstrations are shocking, to say the least. This article takes us goes back in history when others precluded Jews from praying at the Kotel, but to be excluded by our own - this is intolerable and has to stop. Yizhar Hess's articles make one realise how scary the situation actually is. M.Blumberg

Political agitation w/o "kiruv" -- winning the hearts, minds, and donations of a large segment of the local and diaspora Jewish population, will do littel to overcome the Ortho "monopoly" over the Kotel & other aspects of religious life in Israel. Start by teaching the Mitzvot (commandments) from a Cons perspective. Only such will the non-Ortho *observant* population grow and make a real difference. B'hatzlecha (good luck).

The Reform movement has opposed mention of the Temple Service in its liturgy. So why do they need the remnants of the outer Wall of that same Temple? The Reform movement in Germany and the USA was dedicated to uprooting Traditional Judaism, and now that they have belatedly recognised the state of israel, they appear to be trying the same tactic here.

No need for concern we are talking about Jerusalem not shopping hours in LA.

I fought to liberate the wall, my friends died to liberate the wall. This was done in the name of Am Yisrael and not in the name of a group of parasitical zealots. After having contributed to the liberation of this National treasure I want to visit it from time to time and reminisce. I want to visit with my wife but she is obliged to cover her bare arms. She does not like covering her bare arms. I am obliged to cover my head. I do not like covering my head. What do you say about his dear Bunnie. Do I have no rights, does my wife have no rights. Only the zealots have rights. Democracy means many things, much more than a ballot box.

One of the things that disturbs me most, both about the talkbacks here, and about conversations with other Israelis on the street, is the total lack of understanding of what the Masorti movement is or what this desire for pluralism is about. The Masorti movement doesn't throw out the Torah. It uses the same processes of halachic deliberation as the Orthodox streams, the same depth of study, the same devotion to Judaism, only it tends to come to vastly different answers to the questions. Halacha doesn't tie your hands. It's something that you dialog with. Even the great rabbis of the Talmud disagreed on everything, and that's why it is written as a series of discussions and debates, surrounded by more discussions and more analysis. Those who wear black hats are NOT the only legitimate version of Judaism. In fact, perhaps you could argue that they are lacking some legitimacy since they refuse to give up the trappings of galut even now that they are at home. But, no, they have every right to their path, too. Just let the rest of us follow our own consciences and wrestle with tradition as we must.

The Kotel is primarily a religious site and only secondarily a national site. What the author proposes would, in the eyes of traditional Jews, desecrate the Kotel. That isn't compromise that is conquest by minority interests.

Your 'logic' is totally convoluted: On the one hand you write 'doesn't throw out the Torah. It uses the same processes ... come[s] to vastly different answers to the questions' and on he other hand you write 'follow our own consciences and wrestle with tradition as we must'. In other words: you do exactly as you wish without regard for the Torah. That is exactly the definition of Reform, and always has been. In your private life, do what you want, updating it daily as public opinion changes. But don't try to force your today's agenda on others.

If one must have a Jewish mother to be a Jew, why is it illegal in Israel for that Jewish mother to carry a Torah and wear a Tallit?

The only thing sillier than Conservatives calling for the "liberation" of the Kotel from Torah observant Jews is the misguided belief that Masorti has any relevance in Israel. But for a handful of American olim and visitors, the overwhelming majority of Israelis - both secular and religious - reject non-orthodox Judaism.

There weren't separate sections. Look at the old postcards. the wall was a place to pray, a place to cry. It wasn't a permanent minyan. There were many women who went there.

Both sides of this debate should hold the hate and try to imagine some goodness on the other side. The traditionalists should have their place at the Kotel to pray in the way they think best, without insult or disturbance. Other jews who sincerely wish to pray in a different way and feel there is spiritual value at that location should be able to do so also. This does not take anything away from the traditionalists, unless they allow themselves to feel "threatened" by it. Instead they could view these aspiring jews as GOOD people wanting religion to be a force in their lives! Isn't it better to have them praying in some way, instead of going to the mall or the beach?