'Torah tag' sprayed on Women of Wall member's house
Officials say act of vandalism represents 'terrorism against pluralism and tolerance'; Women of Wall say rabbis should issue condemnation
Entitled "Torah tag," the graffiti read: "Peggy, you're the first. We know where you live. Jerusalem is holly. The Wailing Wall would not be forfeited. Women of the Wall are villains."
Related stories:
Cidor told Ynet police arrived at the scene before she saw the graffiti, alerted apparently by one of the neighbors. "I can't say I feel threatened, but it is all very unpleasant," she said.
"Torah tag" (photo: Chen Sror)
"I demand the rabbis condemn this action, or I promise to raise hell," the activist added.
Cidor, a journalist by trade, is not one of the most active member of the Women of the Wall, though she has taken part in all prayers. She did, however, give a number of interviews to the press in the wake of the recent controversies surrounding the group, which she believes was what brought the vandals to her doorstep.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Monday police were investigating.
"Women of the Wall" said in response that "it's probably bored youths, who heed the calls of incitement sounded by their community leaders. The real problem facing Israeli society is not what they did, but what the Haredi leaders will do now.
"The writing is on the wall. We urge the rabbis to make themselves heard and strongly condemn the act itself and stop the incitement against the Women of the Wall, regardless of the legitimate public debate. "
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat strongly condemned the acts, saying they represent criminal offences which should be treated stringently by the proper authorities. "The way to resolve disputes in the city is not through violence, but through dialogue, trying reaching an agreement addressing the needs of all parties," the mayor said.
Attorney Yizhar Hess, CEO of the Masorti Movement in Israel, responded strongly to the event, saying "The escalation in the fight for the Wall, proves once again the battle being waged is one for Israel's image. A 'price tag' act aimed at women on the cutting edge of Judaism is terrorism against pluralism and tolerance."
Earlier in May, haredi worshippers clashed with police in Jerusalem's Old City in the wake of the court authorization for the Women of the Wall to pray at the Jewish holy site.
Thousands of female haredi worshipers arrived at the site, heeding the call of community leaders rabbis Ovadia Yosef and Aharon Leib Shteinman who entreated female Ulpan students to hold a mass prayer at the Western Wall on Friday in an attempt to push aside the Women of Wall prayer set for the same time. However, the rabbis stressed there is no need to act provocatively or violently.
A mass brawl erupted at the site at around 6:30 am, during which garbage, water, coffee and various objects were flung at dozens of Women of the Wall and police forming a human barrier between the female group and the ultra-Orthodox. Three yeshiva students were detained during the clashes. Two police officers were injured lightly.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
