Police arrest woman for wearing prayer shawl at Western Wall

Israel is facing a decision that every country must face but in its own unique way. In all countries religious lobbyists play a hefty role in determining what is and isnt law, but in Israel these lobbyists have been afforded a vote, a unique shift in paradigm that many deem appropriate due to Israel's rich religious heritage. The negative implications of this is that outside of Israel very little of the remaining Jewish population shares the Shas party's views. The Reform movement is growing as are the Conservative and Reconstruction movement at a rate that demands respect. The question that needs to be answered here is whether the wall belongs to the Jewish people or whether it belongs to Israel. If it belongs to the Jewish people than it seems within these women's rights to practice as they see fit. If it belongs to Israel than it is within the government's rights to enforce the dress and behavior codes at the wall.

I have been asking this question ever since the story came out and cannot get an answer. If one cannot be jewish unless one's mother was jewish, why is it illegal for jewish mothers to carry a Torah or wear a Tallit. Why is it illegal? "In November, WoW member Nofrat Frankel, a Conservative Jew, was briefly detained by police for wearing a tallit -- prayer shawl -- and carrying a Torah. The offence can carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of about $3,000." http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=2380670

The misogyny expressed by many of the letter writers here takes my breath away. It is not only in the reform tradition that women are called to the Torah and wear Tallitot. It is also accepted in the Conservative movement. In fact, it seems to be accepted almost everywhere but in Israel & at a site holy to all Jews, not just the orthodox and ultra orthodox.

what your world view is? Where does the WORD of G-d, Tenach, Nevaim, Tehelim, fit into your life? Our G-d is a G-d of order. He doesn't put down anyone. He created us all. But we all have different functions. Women were created to be a support to the man who is to be the head of the home, the cover and the priest for the family. G-d is our head. He is over all. He is sovereign. If we don't like the order he has created, that is between G-d and us on an individual basis. Men do not respect women for the unique gift that they are to them. Relationships have broken down between the sexes. What a shame that women feel they must take upon themselves the role that was originally given to men. However,in today's world, many women are single parents, thrust into the position of head of the home. Why is this? The problem is more complex than we want to admit. I personally can let others do their own thing, but I know that I never want to usurp from a man his rightful place in G-d's order.

See here we have a mature woman with common sense please all feminist learn from her.

Here it goes another feminist crying crying because it can pray with her husband at the kotel !!! lady the kotel is such a holy place and if you realy read the Torah you will find that when the Beit Hamikdash was in place women had a special place to pray and they where not precisely sitting next to they husbands so why you cry with bitterness if this has been since the first and second temple? show respect for Halacha and Torah even if you dont follow it. Show respect for the dress code in the kotel and that includes to women not wearing "talit".

Tell me, what did you learn last time you studied the Torah she be al Pe ? If you did not started studying and you are just giving statements, it is never too late. Go and study.....before writing.

"She is Jewish and she was practicing her Judaism in a way that at least 3/4 of the Jews in the world would not have a problem with." It is interesting to know that according to your statistics 75% of the Jews are Reformed!! Wake up, Reformed Jews are a minority within the Jewish People. they can do what they want in their synagogues but in public, in Israel and men more at the Kotel, the rules of the majority has to be followed...You know, those Jews who have kept our Tradition for 2,000 years and thanks to whom we can still say : I am a Jew !!

But if we consider it as a local minhag, a local custom, the arrest is outrageous. None of the religious sites would arrest someone by the police. This is fundamentalism. This is the way of Iran and Saudi Arabia. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=311187&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the Shas party's spiritual leader, does any logical thinker listen to this beer-add doddering idiot,any more. Only in Israel, world wide they prefer Mickey Mouse.

How does wearing a talit or wanting to pray equal inapprobriate?

I have spoken!

Shouldn't respect be a two way street? Religious beliefs are very personal. Even amongst religious Jews, there are different customs, for instance the eating of legumes on Passover. Why bother her, she was being very Jewish, only in her own way. The extreme religious minority in Israel cannot dictate to the moderate majority what to do. She wasn't undressing, she was actually well covered. The extremists are distancing the moderate Jews (who are Jew's no less than they are) from their own religion. That''s probably what happened at the temple in Jesus' time. Let's not be stupid enough to do it again!

Thats exactly why its so messed up.

Israel has dedicated itself to being a Jewish and democratic state. How can it commit itself to being democratic when its officials arrest women for wearing a tallit at the Western Wall? What has happened to Israel? What happened to humanism playing a role in Israel's secular identity, with freedom of religion within the frameworks of an ethnically Jewish state? The ultra-Orthodox's politicians's exertion of force over Israel's government is ridiculously evident here, even though they represent nothing but their egotistical fascist ideas for Israeli theocracy, not even the desires of their own electorate. It's time Israel takes a stand for itself and and asserts its identity as a free, humanist, plurastic Jewish state.

Some who agree with Ovadia Yosef keep invoking this absolute moral standard that one must adhere to while they are in the presence of the wall, but who on earth decides what constitutes morality? a bunch of mysoginists like Yosef who think gender parity is "silly"?

NEVER

I was not arrested when I wore my tallit on Shabbat at the Kotel in 1996. I am Conservative and am in support of women wearing the prayer shawl and reading from the Torah. The Rabbi should be ashamed of himself by saying women have no equality in Israel. What is this a police state????? I happen to be a part of the Women of the Wall and I pray when I go to the Wall, this is what those men should be doing instead of watching what we women do on OUR side of the Wall. By the way they have twice as much room as us! Than kyou

This is exactly the sort of nonsense that is driving US Jews away from Israel. This, plus the revelations of the Goldstone Report, plus Israel's insincerity in its negotiations with the Palestinians, and similar conduct will cause great harm to Jewish world unity in the years to come.

"had enough" wrote, "arrested for praying? what next arrest for showing too much flesh on the street?" Actually, yes. In all countries one can be arrested for indecent exposure. Go figure

Someone wrote, ---Reading this article was appalling. It hurts so much to read that in the Jewish state, people are not free to be the Jews that they want to be. For all of you interested in changing and challenging the overly powerful orthodox, you should visit Hiddush.org - an organization to promote religious equality for all and not for some---- Grow up. No one is free to be *anything* he wants *anywhere*. All societies have constraints on behavior. In the wonderful "democracy" of the USA one is not free to be a nudist on Broadway, NY. Contextual respect is imposed by *all* societies. someone wrote, "It is outrageous that I cannot wear tallit there. " Why, exactly, is it outrageous?

the points you showed will never happen in our lifetime, virtually all politicians are corrupt, and that doesn NOT exclude our country, once upon a time the politicians used to look after the people (they served us the taxpayers), now the politicians look after themselves and we can all go to hell, they take bribes in the form of donations, donations should be banned totally.

Rabbi Ovadia also said about the groups' custom to pray at the Western Wall that "there are stupid women who come to the Western Wall, put on a tallit (prayer shawl), and pray," and added that they should be condemned. yep, women are not even alowed to ride in a bus at the front as reported on haaretz a while ago, just goes to show how jews are no different to arabs.

You talk about Jews,Christians,excluding the most rapidly growing religion Islam.Why is that? Don't want to offend brothers? "I mean, ever seen Catholic cardinals wondering around in pretty red dresses with white lace on them, while attacking homosexuality?!" No,I've never seen Catholic cardinals wondering around in pretty red dresses with white lace on them, while attacking homosexuality,but I saw Imams calling Jews pigs and yelling "We will dominate you" if that makes you happy. Ever seen women sitting with husbands and praying together in a mosque? Ever seen a muslim woman dressed against "Bronze Age commandments" in Mecca?

... for wearing a talit an obserbant woman is apprehended by the police... ... for starving almost to death at least one of her children, a charedi woman enjoys the intervention of rabbis between her and the police, and gets off virtually scot-free...

Gee! Barak didnt treat Deborah that way when they gathered troops on Mt. Tabor to tell Sisera where to get off the trolley. Of course it might have been worth his indispensbles to try. She was probably carrying a sword at the time. Perhaps the rabbi should think about that for a while.

if she upset anyone's sensibilities. What's with this arrest business? If this fine lady/ladies tried to push the envelope with such a statement in an orthodox synagogue they would only have been asked to leave.

If she's sinned against Bronze Age commandments, she should at least wash her sins away in a properly Bronze Age fashion. Seriously folks, the real problem here is taking religion seriously. There may be a spiritual truth buried somewhere in it, but all the trappings are just pantomime rubbish. Good for a laugh but little else. I mean, ever seen Catholic cardinals wondering around in pretty red dresses with white lace on them, while attacking homosexuality?!

Seeing that progressive Jews (Reform and Conservative) do not receive respect in Israel, perhaps Israel should learn to do without the monetary support from progressive Jews? Progressive Jews make up the vast majority of diaspora Jews, and our checks represent a huge portion of private support for Israel -- and yet Israel repeatedly tries to block our converts, and disrespect our style of worship -- seems like they don't need our money, either! Time and time again I have seen the rude, rough treatment of visitors (Jew and Gentile) at the Kotel -- the "modesty" police and the Orthodox fascists no longer represent The Holy One. There is a way to share culture, custom, and faith, in a gentle and generous fashion, however, so many Israel Orthodox have made "religious" a dirty word. A sad day, indeed!

1) The Wall is a holy place for all Jews - not just the Orthodox; 2) I find the wall separating men and women offensive, but I don't knock it down out of respect for those who believe it is necessary. In other words, though I find it offensive, it is not a act against me personally and it does not prevent me from praying at the Wall; 3) This woman was wearing a tallit herself - she didn't try to force someone who didn't want one to wear it. This woman has as much right to her own personal religious expression as someone who chooses not to wear the tallit. If you don't like it, don't look at her!

Judaism is a religion of practical obligations (mitzvot) directly derived from the Torah (Bible). To wear a talit (or tefilin) and to read from the Torah in public are not obligations that apply to women. Furthermore, a woman reading the Torah in public violates a law called "kol isha" (woman singing in public) as well as "mehitza" (separation: the sexes talking to each other during prayer) and probably a few others I didn't think about. Even worse, the core motivation of Judaism is to conquer one's ego. This is not an equality issue. This is an issue of openly breaking laws of Judaism to satisfy the ego of a small group. To pray normally does not violate the laws of "reformism", but to do so this way DOES violate those of traditional Judaism.

So much for the promise of being in the Promised land. Makes it really difficult to be proud to be a jew in the 21st century. Maybe in Diaspora, where women, men of any orientation can join together in unashamed harmony to praise the source of life. Maybe in Diaspora it is just more sane to believe in a good God, to worship without fear of repression, and express one's love for Judaism through beauty and the arts. Hiddur mitzvah means so much more than the black and white of the ultra orthodox limited vision. Is this Israel's new promise to us? Give us your money, come and tour, look but don't touch and don't even think of praying here for your mere presence defiles our superior supplications.

"not allowing women to wear a prayer shawl is actually `reverse` sexism: only MEN are charged with wearing it since Women are more spiritual and do not have to follow the strict rules the men do. Is that an `excuse`??? NO! Its just the beauty of Judaism: women are more spiritually evolved, our birthright is thorugh our mothers, women bring in Shabbos, Women are more charitable, etc.," Would you mind if your boss said to you. "Look EZ, I'm going to pay you 20 per cent less than the men. You're better than they are. You're more caring and more charitable, more spiritually evolved. You don't need all this filthy money and prestige to motivate you, like they do. Take the pay cut as a genuine spiritual compliment, because trust me that's how it's intended.'

I read your article. It raises an interesting point. Your Chabad article states "Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, eminent 20th century halachic authority, writes that a woman who desires to wear a tallit may do so, provided that she wears a distinctively feminine tallit". "He cautions, however, that this applies only to women whose desire to wear a tallit stems from a yearning to fulfill this mitzvah, though recognizing that they are not required to do so, and not to individuals who don a tallit as a "protest," a means of challenging what they perceive to be a gender bias". Making a prayer shawl "distinctly feminine" maybe a challenge for the schmutter industry but life usually has bigger issues... The feminine prayer shawl seems to have had Rabbi Feinstein's tick of approval... Problem solved...?

... to be led into a court of law completely covered up with a convenient outsize talit, in order to protect their identity... ... the significance of the talit has long been defiled...

You keep drawing similarities to people visiting congregations of other denominations or directions than their own. This woman is not visiting someone else's place of worship, she is going to her own. Your logic fails. The goal of a democracy is not to please the majority - it is to protect the minorities, and shield them from the abusive practices of the majority. This has failed regarding the arabs - why should it also fail regarding reform jews?

she was reading from the torah - a scroll that she brought from home. That is how it's described on the haredi web-sites, and that is what Rabbinovich reacted to.

What was this woman's sin? to wear a tallit and to read from the scrolls aloud? oh I see, that is only the right of males. Wow, after 57 centuries of this religion, one would think and hope men and women were treated equally. NOT ! This is a disgrace to our mankind, to any religion, to any race, to any nation.

The right of woman to pray at the Kotel is not being challenged here. In praying at the Kotel both man and woman have to adhere to the dress codes in place. The donning of the Talit is a biblical mitzvah directed towards men, not women. Why all the fireworks?

Israel's going to be just like Solomon's kingdom all over again, only armed with nukes this time. Should be an interesting next couple of centuries. Didn't end well last time round mind you.

Every holy place of every faith has its own etiquette. When Pres. Clinton, Pres. Obama, Pope John Paul, Pope Benedict came to pray at the Western Wall they covered their heads. When married women come they cover their hair and all women dress modestly. In church men uncover their heads. In mosques people remove their shoes. On entering any holy place you accept its own rules. It's just common sense and respect.

Some posters [mainly American?] seem to believe they can do whatever they want, whenever, wherever and however they please. This doesn't work in the real world. Robinson's Arch is set aside for women to layne from the Sefer Torah, to wear a tallis [ and Tefillin?] and to conduct services with mixed seating etc. The Western Wall may attract tourists but it is legally an Orthodox synagogue under the auspices of the Chief Rabbi's Office, with Robinson's Arch set aside to accommodate Conservative and Reform services. This whole episode was unnecessary. On the other hand a femal officer should have politely reminded the ladies that what they were doing may cause offense. This is not really a matter for the police.

the prayer only shows jewish wisdom.

Years back the Israeli civil High Court ruled that while the Western Wall itself has the legal status of an Orthodox synagogue, the area of Robinson's Arch, overlooking the Wall is set aside for Conservative and Reform services. The women were well aware of this and chose to disregard it. The real issue is the heavy handed response of the civil police who turned what should have been a polite reminder into a storm trooper confrontation.

under orthodox jewish law, a person born jewish is jewish regardless of how he/she behaves. one can be totally secular, but under jewish law, one remains jewish. the issue here is who among the religious authorities will determine worshipors' conduct at the kotel. the state of israel, and the high court, decided that such conduct will be determined by the chief rabbinate. those who attempt to disrupt public worship at the kotel are simply provocative. there is no way to accommodate all strands of judaism at the kotel. some will be insulted regardless of the authorities' decision. reform and conservative are relatively new in israel. secular jews who were born there accept the rules at the kotel, especially since they hardly ever go there. they have a certain measure of respect for the orthodox as long as their lives in general are not disrupted.

MenachemP, You are really funny. Who would arrest a woman wearing a Talit in a Orthodox shul NYC? That will be the Joke of the year. The only ones that will go nuts are the Ultra Orthodox crazies, same ones that cause trouble in Jerusalem. Be real.

Next, the left will try to have a gay marriage at the wall and scream discrimination when they are turned back! It's the nutty left again.

How much nonsense can the haredim create? The talit is a piece of cloth most likely woven by women, some might have their monthly period that should render it Taref for the haredim even to touch it much less wear it. Yet a woman can't put it on? These haredim need stop sticking their head in the sand and realize that they are living in the 21 century and not in the dark ages. If they really want to adhere to the strictest rules they demand the public to adhere to, they better think of whom is preparing their food and such. Interesting the police has time for this kind of idiotic behavior when real crimes are being committed. Since when the haredim have any say on what can be done at the Kotel? The young Israelis they loathe, gave their lives to liberate the Kotel, not one of these nuts fought for it

These rules are aimed at pleasing the majority. The orthodox find it offensive to have women wearing a talit Most women are quite happy not to wear a talit when they pray whatever branch of judaism they see themselves as. They are allowed to go pray at the Kotel thats the important thing. For most women this rule doesnt bother them but for the orthodox its important I have a religious relative he went to visit Windsor Castle in England and as part of the tour they went to visit the queens private chapel. As he is religious he was wearing a hat but the guide told him nobody can cover their head in the chapel so take the hat off. He explained he was a religious jew and he must cover his head etc. The guide told him that he could weither take off his hat or wait outside because they are the rules. So he decided to wait outside, he wasn't happy but he accepted thats their way. At the Kotel their rules are to offend as few people as possible so they have to consi der the orthodox

There is one thing i hate in this world, it is men who call women stupid. They either don't know any better, or are perfectly happy with what they are doing and understand it, or need guidance and education...but never, never should a woman, or man be called stupid

You claim torah rules are not reformable. I suggest you check out the dispute between Hillel and Shammai. Shammai, who agreed with you that the rules are not reformable, lost.

There is a lot of irony in your words, considering the sheer number of Jews in the U.S. who work for women's rights and equality. So are you saying Jews are deliberately working to destroy other nations' cultures so as to strengthen their own? It would appear so because one of the biggest proponents of mass immigration and dilution of the gene pool here in the U.S.A. is the Southern Poverty Law Center, run by Jews, defending minority rights everywhere...but Israel. Gee, that really does sound a lot like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, doesn't it! Keep it up sparky! And straight from your mouth.

Why is a secular (democratic) police force enforcing (essentially) a religious dress code? Nice theocracy, Israel!

I do not recall reading that a woman cannot wera a pray shawl. This hs nothing to do with a dress code. Again you have a group that makes up its own laws. The woman are getting smarter and many refuse to be property

I understand you are emotionally incapable of saying anything without relating it to and denigrating Palestinians, but this is a little extreme, even for you. What does what Palestinians do about the top of the Temple Mount have to do with the fascism imposed on women at the Western Wall?

Shameful, medieval practice. Misogyny par excellence.

Rabbi Rabinowitz complains about the "politics" in religion but that is EXACTLY what he is doing. Putting political power over religious freedom. There is NO LAW that says a woman cannot wear a talit. The is NO LAW that says a woman cannot read the torah. These are ALL political games that people play to control the religious life of others. These people are the lowest beings on the planet. They will destroy Israel if they are not stopped.

i must have been mistaken. looks like a theocracy to me. Just who are these rabbis to tell people where they can pray and why? what right or authority do they have? who appointed them? do they even know the first thing about judaism or are they mired in a dark ages ghettoized version of some archaic, old style, primitive customs? oops, I forgot. I guess they didn't hear about the emancipation - or the rennaisance. But then, isn't it true that religious education in Israel sort of ends with the 17th century? Oh well, at least they get their madrasahs funded at public expense. besides, they can always say that women can't go to mecca either, so there! they are just part of world-wide trend....

Collective groups of Jews will not be permitted at any time to pray on the Temple Mount any more than Muslims will be allowed to hold collective prayer at the Kotel. The Temple Mount,under centuries old status quo, is a Muslim shrine intended only for collective Muslim prayer. Jews are welcome to visit the site as tourists or art historians but not as a collective body whose intention is to lay claim to the site and reverse the status quo.

My brother. Please Please learn a little humility and respect. Ovadia Josef is one of the most learned and respected men in the entire Jewish world. I am sure you do not have the learning to appreciate his greatness. But treating each other with respect is a basic requirement of discourse. Please Please try and understand. If we treat each other with respect we will bring blessings on the entire nation of Israel - Peace and Blessings

Of course any reasonable person should feel ashamed that something like that can happen anywhere in the world, but in particular in Israel, and most particular at the holiest site of them all. It has nothing to do with Judaism, old-fashioned misogyny combined with a psychotic lust for power, nothing more. Obviously some have not learned to love-in-vein and are still consumed by their need to hate-in-vein. But even in this troubling story I believe we can find hope. It takes such cases of injustice to highlight the discrepancy between supposed freedoms and rights, afforded to all Israelis regardless of race, creed or gender in our code of laws, and the blatant disregard to such rights by no other then those charged with protecting them -- the police. One can hope that seeing injustice will cause many to try and address it. Three cheers to the Talit-Woman (a new superhero ^_^), it takes courage to do what you did, hopefully we will all be for the better because of it. Good day.

Some background: women are exempt (not prohibited) from carrying out "time related" mitzvot. This includes prayer during the appropriate times of morning, afternoon and evening, although of course they are encouraged to do so, even alone. Tallit and tefillin are objects related to that, so they are exempt. Women AND MEN may not touch ritual objects such as above if they are Tameh. For women this usually relates to their menstrual cycle. Men, if they touch something unclean or masturbate, are similarly Tameh. None of the above gives the Jewish Wakf at the Kotel, and certainly not the police, the right to infringe on a woman's right to pray with tallit or tefillin. Rashi's Daughters, remember? If you believed in him, believe it's okay.

The dress code at the Kotel is about modesty. I don't see where wearing a talit that covers ones flesh to be offensive. I don't see why a woman reading from the Torah is a problem. It can be done far enough from the mens section to avoid Kol Ishah concerns. So where exactly was this done? I think the Orthodox over-reacted. Observant: Most would call me Haredi.

"So when can Jews pray on the Temple Mount" When your dissenting rabbis speak with one voice about the issue ... therefore, maybe never.

I think that it was right to remove from the Kotel those women who wore a tallit. To wear a tallit (or 'prayer shawl') is not a 'social custom' as the article falsely claims, but sacred practice, of which the regulations of observance are of great importance. No matter if you're are a religious person or not, you do understand that it's not tolerable for 90% of observant Jews, both man and women, to watch how somebody comes along and perverts the sacred practice of a 3300 years old tradition as he sees fit. The truth is that reform, conservative and other streams are recent aberrations of mainstream Judaism that is based on the tradition. Today that mainstream is called orthodox. All other streams are derived from other ideas than those transmitted through tradition and are therefore perversions of what is true Judaism. Their newly introduced practice is in no way sacred, except maybe self-proclaimed, and they can be ignored when pondering about the true way of Jewish observance.

Women obligated to dress in accordance with site code? Now we have proof positive on the Taliban's influence at the Wall. In reply to your comment rabbi Gilad Kariv; it's because there are not many Jews left in Israel(real Jews).I think that our Govt. should scour Europe for some pillories leftover from the Middle ages, bring them here and display our " stupid women ".That should put a smile on Ovadia's face,

i wonder what they would do if they knew how many gays and lesbians pray there as well. I guess i will keep the gay flag in the closet

With our blood, we, the seculars, freed the wall, and now the hardim are trying to force their way of life on us? How can we stand it? The woman wants to wear a talit- what's wrong with that? The hardim men do it... If you find pigs heads at the wall, I would not be surprised. maybe it is time to use the haredim's methods- maybe desecrating the wall would send them a message...or having a caravan go through "their" neighborhoods on shabat- with, of course stones ready to be thrown back...I am tired of them dictating my life.As Tchernichovski said:"Heye adam be tsetcha, viyehudi be ohalecha"- be a man outside, and a jew at home...

Arresting this Jewish woman for her religious beliefs should certainly please the invisible man in the sky.

Ohhhh, those comments were so expected! LOL! How idiotic and condescending!!! Anyhow, the bottom line is that the Rabbi was correct: the modern feminist movement is VERY selfish in motives and has nothing to do with 'productive' outcomes, but rather, the selfish desires to 'be heard'...not nearly as much as for 'equality.' Activism has a time and a place: not allowing women to wear a prayer shawl is actually 'reverse' sexism: only MEN are charged with wearing it since Women are more spiritual and do not have to follow the strict rules the men do. Is that an 'excuse'??? NO! Its just the beauty of Judaism: women are more spiritually evolved, our birthright is thorugh our mothers, women bring in Shabbos, Women are more charitable, etc., etc. But it doesn't matter how much you do for any group looking for 'more'. They only see what they want, not what they have. These women were 'testing' (inciting), not following TRUE CUSTOMS and trying to force out beautiful Jewish History. Shame

The Torah clearly states that the Israelites - men and women - are to wear tzizit.

Pissed Woman and others who agree with you, here's what you don't get: We are tired of having feminist stupidity stuffed down our throats for the past 30 years, we are tired of you serving yourselves instead of the family,tired of you turning every natural male behavior into a crime,tired of your destruction of the family (in the guise of 'equality'), tired of you putting career and ego and self first and then deciding to get married at 40 when you finally have no choice because of your biological clock -- we are tired of it all and we have decided that we are not going to take it anymore. Do you find Israel misogynistic? Do you find it intolerant? 'backwards' (as opposed to your 'enlightened' values)? Then you have made my day. Maybe you can go back to America, a country you have already destroyed with your upside-down values, rather than coming to destroy Israel with these anti-family notions as well. It's not just a woman wearing a talit. Its defending Jewish tradition and values!

People should note that Palestinians ban Jews from going up to the Temple Mount, even though under Jewish law one is not supposed to go up there. In fact, if a Jew so much as steps out on the Temple Mount the Palestinians riot. They are among the most religiously intolerant people in the world, have burned down Jewish holy sites and attacked synagogues many times over the years.

People should note that Palestinians ban Jews from going up to the Temple Mount, even though under Jewish law one is not supposed to go up there. In fact, if a Jew so much as steps out on the Temple Mount the Palestinians riot. They are among the most religiously intolerant people in the world, have burned down Jewish holy sites and attacked synagogues many times over the years.

Or is that 'another' kind of religious freedom?

I'm sure you are going to find that most modern Israelis people are traditionalist and would not back this tiny fringe group of Meshugaot who are looking to upset the tranquility of the the Temple Wall (aka Kotel), and thus bring fame to themselves. Since it was recaptured in the 1967 Six Day War, it is a privilege for everyone to pray at the Temple Wall, the last standing wall of the Holy Temple that was built be Solomon and destroyed by the Roman. Its tranquility should be respected maintained and any fringe group that cannot respect the norm should not be admitted.

"Would she walk into the Vatican dressed inappropriately?" Would you please explain what was inappropriate about her clothing? Furthermore, the Vatican has no different sets of rules for male and female prayer ...

This is a shame; I believe women have every right to learn about the Torah, they are our equals! The smartest people I know are women!!! I am a man who supports this group!

"Its like going to a reform synagougue or an orthodox one. Each have their customs that they expect people to respect if you go in there." It is supposed to be a site for all Jews, isn't it? Otherwise it would wear the cap of a particular sect, wouldn't it? This is no different than what happens in other oppressive societies.

`thank g-d I wasn`t created a woman` This being the blessing given each morning by all observant orthodox Jews [never mind heredim], as written in the Jewish daily prayer book. The only thing worse than being born a woman was being born both a gentile and a woman. There being a prayer of thanks for not being inflicted with that handicap too.

Yes - men must obey their constructed worldly rituals. All these nonsensical rituals crowding the streets of day-to-day living, competing, fighting, demanding. Suppressing. And condemning. Really stupid (shakes head sadly at the devolution occurring around her).

Amazing at the militancy (and stupidity) with which Jewish religious leaders preach their views now a days. I'm sure if it's the heat of the Israeli sun, power-lust driven moral corruption, or self delusions of grandeur associated with being a religious figure in the land of the Bible which turns people evil and stupid this way. Despite being Jews, and by default considering ourselves smarter than all the goys, there maybe something to be learned from more developed countries: (1) there must be clear separation between religion and state, (2) the state should be run by experienced, selfless and intelligent leaders who put the interest of the state above personal ego and wealth, and (3) no-one should be allowed/forced to stay in power long enough for them to become corrupt.

The whole reform movement was created to give everyone equal rights and not in order to serve the creator. Most of the problems for the jewish people and state come from people who consider themselves Jews because they pray at a reform temple which has nothing in common with traditional judiasim and they think that intitles them to critisize Israel and that they represent the state their kids no nothing at all about being Jewsish except that they go dressed in their finest on the first day only of the new year (they don't even know to observe two days) so their parents can show them off! the whole movement will disapear with the passing of this generation, they have no future.

Arresting a Jewish woman IN ISRAEL for praying to God in a way that adds meaning to her prayers makes Israel no better than Iran! How horrible it is that the ONLY place I am FEARFUL expressing my Judaism is IN Israel at the holiest sight for Jews. The Western Wall is not a private synagogue. It should be a holy place for ALL Jews and a place where ALL Jews can express their connection to God and the Jewish people. The Jewish merchants in Jerusalem and the Cardo have no trouble selling women's tallitot, where I have bought several. I'd love to see them stand up and support a women's right to wear their tallitot at Jewish holy sights.

yes the wall is for everyone but so everyone can come however we have to use the greatest common denominator to allow access to all. If we were to do as the "pissed woman" states then the Charedi, frum, Modern Orthodox etc won't come. If that's the case then who will daven there at all times not just times she feels like coming with her husband and children. During snow storms? freezing cold nights? Dangerous days and nights? it will become like "Disney World", an attraction to visit when you have the urge. I rarely see the other groups there on those cold rainy nights when I'm there. Where are you then?

Shame on the police. All they have done is made this a major issue, with many copy cats. Will the police start arresting female tourists who put on Tefilin at the wall as well?

Your parallel regarding a reform jewish woman visiting an orthodox synagogue does not hold up.She is not visiting an orthodox synagogue - she is going to her most holy place to pray. The Kotel is not an orthodox synagogue, and enforcing those rules there implies that it belongs to some Jews more than others. Same thing as state funding for reform synagogues - it is as if Israel is becoming more and more for the orthodox only - other Jews need not apply. It is exactly the orthodox hijacking the place. Religion and democracy are not the same thing - of that you are right. But if religion supercedes democracy Israel is no different than Iran.

When Jews want to merely visit on the Temple Mount the pavlovian left has fits. If a Jew were to try to pray, as in move his lips silently, then he or she would also get arrested. How is this different?

Why don't you look at your own countrys' track record when it comes to religious tolerance especially concerning Jews before any of your comments.

Its amazing how those who are claiming religious tolerance bash torah observant jews at every opportune moment and with the same breath.

I agree that this is not right, it is wrong. This should not be happening in Israel or anywhere else. But please look at the Arab world and what level of religious freedom exists there? Israel is not perfect. But we can still love and hope.

women aren't meant to wear talits in the first place.

Below I posted a link to a very insightful article written by Rabbi Menachem Posner. Please do not discredit the link before looking at it. I understand the many sensitivities surrounding such a topic, especially secularists and the religious, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read this article. I believe to be very sensitive. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/587787/jewish/Is-it-appropriate-for-a-woman-to-wear-a-tallit.htm

`thank g-d I wasn`t created a woman` This being the blessing given each morning by all observant orthodox Jews [never mind heredim], as written in the Jewish daily prayer book. The only thing worse than being born a woman was being born both a gentile and a woman. There being a prayer of thanks for not being inflicted with that handicap too.

Must object to Sarah's suggestion that the woman wearing a talit wanted to "offend the Jews" Sarah, this woman IS a jew, and she was making an honest attempt to pray in the manner she believes most effective. She was not attempting to offend, or to provoke. She merely wanted to pray.

The Torah does not deem it necessary to wear Tallit at all. The Torah specifies that men who wear a four cornered garment must attach fringes to its corners (women are exempt). Man is NOT obligated to wear such a garment. Before modernists start ranting about the religious "swine" of Israel, chill. The fact is what the Torah does forbid is for men or women to wear clothing normally associated with the other gender. Men cannot wear skirts. Because tallit are normally worn by men and not women this could constitute a problem. The vast majority of women do not wear tallit so those who do may draw attention to an "excessive piety in an ostentatious manner". Jewish law requires ALL Jews to abstain from any such manner. Though the Rabbi did not express himself as gently as most would like, it should not be so difficult as to see his POV. In direct violation of secular law, custom, and minimally in conflict with Halakha - it would appear as if she was merely making a point

Rabbi Gilad Kariiv of the reform movement states that a woman can wear a Talit everywhere else in the world. That is certainly not true in the United Sates, A woman who walked into an Orthodox shul in New York wearing a Talit would be subject to arrest for desecrating a House of Worship and probably for disturbing the peace, .

This is a complicated question. There are halachic grounds even within Orthodox Judaism permitting woman to wear a tallit and to read Torah in public. Needless to say, in Conservative, Reform, Recon etc. there is no question at all about this point. Yet there is also the concept of Shalom Bayit, one which I am expanding to mean peace among all of Israel. These women must have known their attempts to dawn a tallit and to read the Torah in public at the Wall would result in the current turmoil. Is this really helpful? I am inclined to believe that achieving equality within all branches of Judaism – and between all branches of Judaism – will not work with such divisive actions. In fact, it may achieve just the opposite. I suggests a more peaceful and conciliatory way needs to be found to achieve the rights Jewish woman do in fact deserve.

Do your specific customs at your home or at your "reform" temple. Not in eyes of all. Stop imposing YOUR rules, Torah rules are unique, permanent and not reformable. Reform is YOUR reform. Keep it for you in your places. Good that police arrest this woman. Will you agree if you meet a gay naked at the kotel! If we do not stop you now we'll get there. Shalam Lahem.

Last time I looked at Torah it states that ALL of Israel is to wear Tzitzit...not just the men...so you rabbid's are wrong and that is why YHVH's Hand will come down hard upon us....you have replaced His rulings with your own....Nu 15,37-41 "And YHWH spoke unto Moses saying, Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, And you shall make for yourselves Tzitzit on the corners of your garments for your generations; and you shall place on the Tzitzit of the corner a string of blue. And they shall be for you Tzitzit and when you see them and remember the commandments of YHWH and do them you shall not be led astray by your hearts and your eyes which you whore after. In order that you remember and do all my commandments and be holy to your God. I am YHWH your God who took you out of the land of Egypt to be to you God; I am YHWH your God."

`thank g-d I wasn`t created a woman` This being the thanks given each morning by observant Jews, as written in the daily prayer book. Ever since Eve tempted Adam they have caused nothing but trouble!

Dress respectfully- according to traditional modesty standards. It's not the beach and it's not where lesbians should be making their political statements- and hers was a political statement. She knew that it isn't acceptible to wear a talit at the kotel and still, she woke up at 4:30 and traveled all the way from Beersheva to make her statement. I hope she's happy now- in jail.

Women in the Israeli army fight and die for Israel while this representative of the gutless who refuse to, then has the chutzpa to say women have less rights "for heavens sakes".

I do not believe the article said that Ms Hoffman approached the Kotel in a thong, or a bikini, or braless. I suspect she was properly attired with her knees and elbows clothed and her hair covered (at least with a kippa). She put on a tallit, which covers more than it exposes. And I think she would have been given entry into the Vatican or any church in Rome, thought the same circles then would have condemned her for entering a church and vilified her for her appreciation of art as a gentile perversion.

She isn't 'Jewish Enough' to satisfy The ultra-Orthodox.

Reform movement has no future.

I have a relative he to Windsor Castle where he went on the tour that included the queens private chapel. He is a religious man and so he keeps his head covered at all times To avoid attracting attention he wore a baseball cap. When they were inside the chapel the guide told him he must remove his hat because its against the rules to cover your heads inside this royal chapel. He explained that he was an orthodox jew & must keep his head covered but the guide insisted rule is you dont cover your head inside here. If he took off his hat he could stay thats the custom, because of his faith he chose not to take off the hat so he left. They have that rule at the Kotel because the orthodox custom is women don't wear a talit. They want to please as many people as possible so as its not an unreasonable request a woman removes her talit thats the rule. Reform jews are happy for men & women to pray together orthodox doesn't let them so to keep everybody happy they have men & women seperate

She is Jewish and she was practicing her Judaism in a way that at least 3/4 of the Jews in the world would not have a problem with. She didn't try to pray in a tube top and mini-skirt, flouting the dress code of the Western Wall. She was more covered up, using a traditional Jewish prayer shawl. I understand why some Jews choose not to pray this way but how is this offensive???

The state-sanctioned monopoly that orthodox Judaism enjoys is illegitimate, immoral, damaging to all parties involved, and must be broken!

Not just the sexist ones.

More importantly Israel is a signatory to the United nations Cgharter for Human Rights. Article 18. ?Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Oh I forget Israel is above International Law as we saw in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead.

When I pray at my local synagogue, I wear a talit, because I inherited it from my father and he had no sons to say kaddish for him. However whenever I am in Israel, I leave my talit at home, because I often go to pray at synagogues there, as well as the Kotel, and realize that,except for the few Reform and Conservative synagogues, it is not the custom for women to wear a talit. It is no different from covering one's arms and not wearing a miniskirt when one goes to a Catholic church it Italy or Spain. You follow the custom of the country.

"Would she walk into the Vatican dressed inappropriately?" What exactly was "inappropriate" in her clothing? And your invocation of the Vatican is indeed inappropriate: Catholicism has no differents sets of rules for male and female prayer.

Prayer shawls are worn by men, so that is the law?? The only requirement at the Wall is modesty for both men and woman. This is more of orthodoxy trying to mopolise the Wall by intimidation. As long as the woman was quiet and respectful as we all should be , I see no problem here at all. Yes she may be a wacko according to Orthodoxy but orthodox Judaism does not represent all Jews, though it likes to think so.

You ask if she would walk into the vatican dressed inappropriately. I can't imagine they would have any problem with a women who was wearing more clothes than necessary.

Sarah, what is "inappropriate", going in bikinis to a holy place or wearing a prayer item? There's no single prohibition in the Torah concerning women and tzitziyot (let alone the word "tallit" doesn't even appear there!) so there is no whatsoever halachic problem. This is just the latest show-off by the swinish Orthodox estabilishment of Israel!

She is offending just SOME Jews, not all. Many Jews are just as offended by the medieval segregation of men and women and the exclusion of women from religious leadership.

What a wonderful film this would make. Let's turn to 15th Century Fox to make it. Only such a film company could do justice to this primitivism. A less intolerant Swedish Jew

The Orthodox do not have the right to not be offended. It is outrageous that I cannot go to the Kotel with my husband and sons at my side. It is outrageous that I cannot wear tallit there. The Orthodox are the ones squashing my rights, the Orthodox are the ones telling me I am not a person that I am not worthy to be with my family. The Wall is the place for all Jews as you say... except apparently women. We're shunted to the side, treated as less. Despite the fact that many might be offended, no one is harmed by a woman praying in tallit or praying next to her husband and it should be allowed.

arrested for praying? what next arrest for showing too much flesh on the street? walking in the shadow of a man? glad I don't believe in any of it!

Sounds weird coming from a Rabbi. Israel upholds women's rights, doesn't it?

that mocks Saudi Arabia once a week for following their "backward" religious rules ...

Its like going to a reform synagougue or an orthodox one. Each have their customs that they expect people to respect if you go in there. If your a reform jewish woman and you decide to visit an orthodox synagogue in the reform the woman can go sit with the man during prayer times etc. If she is vising an orthodox place she would be expected to sit segregated out of respect and not say well we do things different because its ok for women and men to sit together in reform so its ok for me to sit with the men here .. you just don't do it. Ayt the Kotel its like the orthodox synagogue much stricter customs are adopted and others are expected to respect those customs if they come visit. Its not the orthodox hijacking anything. Because it is such a holy place it was decided by the state to adopt orthodox customs. Nobody says the woman can't pray there just that she respect the customs and not wear a talit. Religion & democracy are not the same thing

Or does she just want to offend the Jews?

I thought the dresscode at the kotel regarded modesty - not tallit? Or what is it that makes the tallit so immodest or offensive to people as to think it challenges the dresscode? I really don't get it.

But isn't this the problem, that the Wall is not for ALL Jews, it is for men. And men only. Accusing the women to wanting to cause trouble, when they are primarily defending their right to their own traditions as well, alongside men. the Wall being such a special place, why should it be exclusive to men?? I really don't get it and I have a hard time understanding why women should be subjected to following the same rules and regulations when they don't have the same rights within the religion. Is it be possible to still be a person of faith but protest against the traditions within one's religion?

Or any other country reigned by religious fundamentalists? All those stories about ultra-othodox trying to impose their will on the majority, and of rabbis voicing extremist opinions, show that the nation is on the way towards becoming a theocracy. And those who want a Jewsih state don't have any standing pointing fingers at Islamist states. No matter if the law is based on the Thorah or the Quran, that's fundamentalism, pure and simple, and certainly not a democracy. When will the Israeli majority finally start to oppose the power grab of the religious fanatics? Do the extremists already have the upper hand?

How is it that the Kotel is owned by the Orthodox? Isn't it a religious site for all Jews and not just those who fit the right mold? It disgusts me to know that in the country where I have chosen to live to and be a Jew, I feel more oppressed and quieted than ever before. Something must give.

Who said that the Taliban are restricted to Islam? They are embedded in all religions and, eventually, will take control, be it Islam, Judaism or Christianity.

Reading this article was appalling. It hurts so much to read that in the Jewish state, people are not free to be the Jews that they want to be. For all of you interested in changing and challenging the overly powerful orthodox, you should visit Hiddush.org - an organization to promote religious equality for all and not for some

I think the issue here is WHY was she arrested? If the police asked her to remove the talit or move on then there would have been no need for an arrest but if she refused to leave or remove the talit then that would have been grounds to forcibly remove her. It may seem unfair but dress codes at the Kotel are based on strict jewish law and its only men who are supposed to wear a talit its the more modern streams of judaism that allows women to do things like wear a talit. If she wants to go there to pray at this public place she must respect custom same as any other man or woman would be expected to respect dress codes in force there.

The Grand Ayatollah Ovadia Yosef has done it again. Fortunatelely he has a big mouth so that his foot can fit into it easily. His repeatedly moronic remarks are a significant factor in Israel losing the support of Americans, both Jewish and non-Jewish. If he (and his Shas cronies) were intelligent, they would realize the disservice they do to Israel.

But add that its less "stupidity" than hostility to Jewish custom and law that is the motor behind the acts. Its one thing to wear tatallit in their "Temples" and another in the public at the wall. The Wall is a unique place and its for ALL Jews. Their arrogance is to define their own wishes to deprive others of their rights. A woman in a tallit reading from the Torah is considered by most Orthodox (won't even talk about Haredi) Jews as an abomination. Bikinis are fine at the beach in TA but too don't have a place at the Wall--- or on most J-town streets (including all the Arab neighborhoods). Why don't they declare themselves nudists and pray in the nude there?.. Or allows Frankists to have orgies there.. Of course its absurd.. The woman's groups was clearly looking to offend and cause trouble.

You may think the Pals are the enemy, but from where I stand, it sure looks like Israel is self-destructing from within the tribe.

I am afraid that Israel is not the place for freedom of religious expression and the fact that this discrmination has be internalized into the law of the state smacks a little of the Taliban! This endless desire to keep the peace at holy sites means that those groups who shout the loudist and threaten public order get there freedoms enforced by the police while everyone else is left out in the cold. Not much of a system is it?