A Peace We Can Win - A War We Will Surely Lose
Once again the holy city of Jerusalem, the "City of Peace", is gripped in controversy. Although somewhat quiet over the past few months, painful conflict is again raging regarding the mixed gender prayer section, recently opened at the Kotel HaMa'aravi. First championed by Natan Sharansky and now embraced by the Netanyahu government, an attempt has been made to restore serenity and end the distressing conflict caused by the longstanding monthly prayer services of the so-called "Women of the Wall" (WOW) (whom I have written about before ). Under this initiative, in addition to the existing Ezrat Anashim (Men's section) and Ezrat Nashim (Women's section) that are under the jurisdiction of the Rabbanut, there is now an "Ezrat Yisrael" at the southern end of the Kotel with no mechitza; where all are welcome to worship however they see fit, not bound by traditional norms. The Reform and Conservative (R&C) and the “Orthodox” WOW ...