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LAW THAT WOULD PUNISH A WOMEN
WHO
PRAYS AT THE WESTERN WALL
WHILE WEARING A TALIS WITH 7 YEARS IN PRISON,
PASSES PRELIMINARY READING IN THE KNESSET
A law submitted by the Haredi/Ultra-Orthodox political parties that declares the area of Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem (known also as the Wailing Wall) is in effect an Orthodox Synagogue, passed its first preliminary reading in the Israel Knesset. The law would make it a criminal offense punishable by seven years in prison for any women who pray at the Western Wall wearing a Talis or who put on phylacteries (Tfilin). Previously, in May 2000, the Israel Supreme Court had ruled that the Government must work out a solution to allow the group called "Women of the Wall" made up of Orthodox, Conservative and Reform women, to pray at the Western Wall according to their tradition of wearing a Talis and reading from the Torah. They also called on the Government to find solutions for mixed Reform and Conservative congregations to pray at the wall. In the past ultra-Orthodox fanatics and vandals verbally abused and physically attacked the Women of the Wall and mixed congregations of Reform and Conservative groups that tried to pray at the Wall. To date the Government of Israel has not made any such arrangements and the new law is an overt attempt to block and circumvent the Supreme Court ruling.