Women who libel Israel

The problem with the analogies used by Rabbi Landau is that a group of reform Jewish males can come to the wall and run a service wothout problems within their own circle with reform siddurim etc. They can't do that in an orthodox synagogue anywehre in the world. There are Orthodox services in Israel where a woman can read the Torah and wear a prayer shawl...so why not at the wall?

This entire controversy is ridiculous. While it is barbaric to arrest women for reciting prayers in a public place (that's all they are doing) what is this nonsense about a wall being a place of worship? And if it is argued that it is the boundary wall of an ancient temple (no capital letters please) this makes no difference. If we're going back a couple of thousand years, why not have animal sacrifices? Judaism today surely means more than worshipping at stone walls. As many readers have pointed out, the Israeli brand of Orthodoxy is surely not a 'state religion' (or shouldn't be) . The women are simply demonstrating against the segregation of women and their inferior status in the Orthodox community, which is fine, but to dignify it as 'worship' is equally ridiculous. The whole business makes a mockery of religion, and makes Israel look pathetic.

David Landau, if you are a real liberal, that must make someone like me who has always identified with Conservative Judaism and progressive politics, a latent anarchist. Liberalism is inclusion and fighting for the right of the disenfranchised. I hate to fall-back on the terribly overused "Chamberlin metaphor," but you just said like the aggressors who deny the right of others have their way for the sake of shalom bayit. This gay, observant Jew who happens to be the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors would soon die that stop fighting people others! Shame on you.

David Landau, if you are a real liberal, that must make someone like me who has always identified with Conservative Judaism and progressive politics, a latent anarchist. Liberalism is inclusion and fighting for the right of the disenfranchised. I hate to fall-back on the terribly overused "Chamberlin metaphor," but you just said like the aggressors who deny the right of others have their way for the sake of shalom bayit. This gay, observant Jew who happens to be the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors would soon die that stop fighting people others! Shame on you.

David Landau, if you are a real liberal, that must make someone like me who has always identified with Conservative Judaism and progressive politics, a latent anarchist. Liberalism is inclusion and fighting for the right of the disenfranchised. I hate to fall-back on the terribly overused "Chamberlin metaphor," but you just said like the aggressors who deny the right of others have their way for the sake of shalom bayit. This gay, observant Jew who happens to be the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors would soon die that stop fighting people others! Shame on you.

The whole point of Anat Hoffman's protest is that while Israel's state religion is now Orthodox it should not be. The government, out of sheer cynicism keeps giving more and more power to increasingly extremist elements of the religious community. I doubt that the portion of the population that is offended by the action is anywhere near as large as Landau would have you believe, and that in any case the official approach to Judaism in Israel should be much more diverse than it is niw.

Have you been to Jerusalem where pictures of women on ads in public places have been BANNED. Now tell me we are an enlightened, liberal, bringing the light to all the non Jews state. Wake up, we are going backwards as fast as the religious parties can make it happen. Wonder who will serve in the army in 25 years time.

Landau has apparently forgotten that Israel is suppose to be a light unto the nations. Irrespective of a difference of religious opinion, Ms Hoffman should not have been treated in such a manner. The State of Israel faces the risk of losing the support of Diasporan and secular Israelis who believe in religious pluralism and tolerance. Come into the 21st century.