Women banned from lighting candles at Kotel event
Western Wall rabbi clarifies that female government ministers will light one menorah at the holy site during Hanukkah, but that women will not take part in the main candle lighting ceremony which is performed by rabbis in the men's section.
The rabbi was responding to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein's order that women should be allowed to participate in the traditional candle lighting events at the Western Wall.
"This year, like last year, government Ministers Gila Gamliel and Miri Regev, have been invited to participate in the ceremony," the rabbi said, noting that "they were invited over a month ago." He added that he had discussed the issue several times with Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber, who wishes to prevent an exclusion of women.
It is unclear whether Zilber is demanding that the women be integrated in the main candle lighting ceremony or whether she is settling for last year's format, when Regev and former Minister Tzipi Livni were invited to light one of the menorahs. While Rabinovitch is adopting the lenient interpretation of the order, women's organizations are expecting full equality.
"According to my personal and the biblical perception, there is no room for another prayer plaza at the Western Wall, and worshippers and visitors must therefore accept the rules of the site which have been acceptable for generations," the rabbi said. "Nonetheless, I was in favor of adopting the compromise… I can only regret the fact that not all the parties to this dispute are acting under the same considerations. It is at the Western Wall of all sites that we should adopt the road of compromise, rather than the road of bigotry which destroyed our temple.
"Hectic discussions have been taking place in recent weeks to finalize a long, delicate and sensitive process led by the cabinet secretary, which aims to reach an agreement settling the demands of the different streams at the Western Wall."
'Women are lawfully demanding their rights'
The rabbi reiterated that "we must not solve one problem and light a fire (which is already burning) from a different direction… I will continue my efforts to bring about the best, broadest solution for all the people of Israel and for all the different visitors of the Western Wall, and work to keep the Western Wall out of any dispute."Rabbi Gilad Kariv, executive director of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, said in response: "The negotiations around the Western Wall are nowhere near completion, and it's a shame that the Western Wall rabbi is using them as an excuse to exclude women and impose restrictions which have no foundation - neither in the Halacha nor in Israeli law.
"The Western Wall rabbi's comments against women who are demanding a part in this holy, important place are making it difficult to make progress in the negotiations and casting a shadow over his comments in favor of a respectable compromise.
"Only when every Jewish man and woman are able to pray and celebrate at the Western Wall according to their custom, rather than behind fences and screens, will we be able to advance to a proper agreement. In the meantime, the Western Wall rabbi should stop pointing an accusing finger at those who are lawfully demanding their rights."
