Western Wall compromise, multiple responses
Netanyahu Buries Reform Kotel Section in Committee
David Israel, Jewish Press, Mar. 27, 2016
Bibi Blinks: Netanyahu Backs Away From Western Wall Prayer Deal
John A. Oswald, The Forward, Mar. 28, 2016
Netanyahu announces delay in implementing egalitarian section at Western Wall
Jeremy Sharon and Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post, Mar. 27, 2016
Government documents:
הודעת מזכיר הממשלה בתום ישיבת הממשלה מיום 31 בינואר 2016
Recommendations of The Advisory Team for the Issue of Prayer Arrangements at the Western Wall
Polls:
Ruderman Family Foundation: 82% of Israelis agree – “All Jews, including Reform and Conservative, should feel that the Western Wall [Kotel] belongs to him and that every Jew should feel welcome in Israel.”
Official statements:
Israel Religious Action Center
Jewish Federations of North America
Masorti-Conservative Movement, Worldwide
Reform Movement, North America
Women of the Wall, Statement
Women of the Wall, Overview, courtesy: Rabbi Pamela Frydman
Overview:
Prayer Deal Opens Rift Among Jewish Feminists
Michele Chabin, The Jewish Week, Feb. 3, 2016
New Western Wall Rules Break Down Barriers For Jewish Women
Emily Harris, NPR, Feb. 6, 2016
As Western Wall deal celebrated, haredi lawmaker calls Reform Jews ‘clowns’
JTA, Jan. 31, 2016
Israeli Government Approves New Egalitarian Prayer Space at Western Wall
Judy Maltz, Haaretz, Jan. 31, 2016
A timeline: Egalitarian prayer at the Kotel
The Masorti movement in Israel
Women Wrap Tefillin Together — But Split Over Western Wall Compromise Deal
Eeta Prince-Gibson, The Forward, Feb. 7, 2016
3 maps that explain the Western Wall compromise
Ben Sales, JTA, Jan. 31, 2016
Cabinet approves ‘historic’ decision to create Western Wall egalitarian prayer space
Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem Post, Jan. 31, 2016
Pro:
Argument: Good for pluralism / diaspora relations
Historic agreement on Western Wall ends long battle
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Jewish Journal, Feb. 3, 2016
The Kotel compromise: A time for rejoicing
Rabbi Denise Eger, Jewish Journal, Feb. 3, 2016
Regarding the Kotel compromise
Rabbi Pamela Frydman, Times of Israel blogs, Feb. 11, 2016
The Kotel compromise: Recognizing there is more than one way to be a Jew
Rabbi Laura Geller, Jewish Journal, Feb. 3, 2016
The compromise is an earthquake (Hebrew)
Yizhar Hess, ynet, Jan. 31, 2016
In favor of the agreement (Hebrew)
Zvi Hauser, former Israeli Cabinet Secretary, Feb. 8, 2016
Historic agreement on Western Wall ends long battle
JTA Staff, Jweekly, Feb. 4, 2016
Better seats at the back of the bus?
Rabbi Barry Leff, Jerusalem Post, Feb. 4, 2016
God’s Presence and the Western Wall
Rabbi Barry Leff, The Neshamah Center, Feb. 11, 2016
A new vision of Kotel future: Part one
Bonnie Riva Ras (WOW Board Member), Jerusalem Post, Jan. 31, 2016
Making History at the Kotel
Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Jerusalem Post, Jan. 31, 2016
One journey for one people
Natan Sharansky, Jerusalem Post, Feb. 18, 2016
Western Wall deal hailed as historic victory for non-Orthodox
Steve Linde, Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem Post, Feb. 1, 2016
Argument: Change in the right direction towards religious freedom
This IS a compromise
Rabbi Stanley Davids, RRFEI Executive Committee, Jan. 31, 2016
The Kotel is just the beginning (Hebrew)
Mickey Gitzin (Israel Hofsheet), ynet, Feb. 4, 2016
Women of the Wall victory can teach us a few things
Batya Kallus (WOW Board Member), 972mag, Feb. 5, 2016
American Reform leaders see Kotel deal as foundation for further gains
Sam Sokol, The Jerusalem Post, Feb. 23, 2016
Argument: Total separation (Orthodox from Heterodox)
The compromise with Women of the Wall: the Haredim bless the “total separation” (Hebrew)
Yaki Admakar, Walla!, Jan. 28, 2016
Letter to the Chief Rabbis of Israel (Hebrew)
Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, Feb. 22, 2016
Why one haredi leader supports Western Wall deal with ‘heretical’ Reform Jews
Ben Sales, JTA, Feb. 29, 2016
Anti:
Argument: Betrayal of Modern Orthodox women and women’s prayer groups at traditional Kotel plaza
Activist women say new plan ‘banishes’ them from Western Wall
Amanda Borschel-Dan (“Original” Women of the Wall), Times of Israel, Feb. 4, 2016
Not a Victory
Dr. Phyllis Chesler (“Original” Women of the Wall), Tablet Magazine, Feb. 3, 2016
Setting the record straight: Women of the Wall
Dr. Phyllis Chesler (“Original” Women of the Wall), Times of Israel, Feb. 5, 2016
A Heralded Compromise That STILL Leaves Out Women
Tamra Dollin, JOFA’s The Torch, Feb. 3, 2016
Orthodox Women May Stand to Lose Under Sharansky’s Proposal
Shayna Finman, Jewish Press, Apr. 30, 2013
Rabbi Rabinowitz is an Inquisitor (Hebrew)
Dr. Hannah Kehat, Arutz7, Feb. 5, 2016
Center for Women’s Justice: We oppose any agreement that prevents women from praying with tefillin and talitot at the Kotel (Hebrew)
Judy Maltz & Yair Ettinger, Haaretz, Jan. 30, 2016
The Real Women of the Wall Aren’t Going Anywhere
Dr. Vanessa Ochs (“Original” Women of the Wall), The Forward, Feb. 2, 2016
Why we will not negotiate our rights to pray at the Western Wall
Dr. Vanessa Ochs (“Original” Women of the Wall), Religion News Service, Feb. 5, 2016
When is a compromise not a compromise?
Cheryl Birkner Mack (“Original” Women of the Wall), Jewish Journal, Feb. 26, 2016
Deal or no deal: We shall not be moved
Dr. Shulamit S. Magnus (“Original” Women of the Wall), Jerusalem Post, Jan. 28, 2016
What’s behind the curtain in the Kotel deal?
Dr. Shulamit S. Magnus (“Original” Women of the Wall), Jerusalem Post, Feb. 25, 2016
Is the Kotel Compromise Another ‘Status Quo’ Agreement?
Alden Solovy, The Forward, Feb. 23, 2016
Women’s prayer: A voice from the heart
Andrea Wiese (“Original” Women of the Wall), Times of Israel blogs, Feb. 7, 2016
Argument: Damaging to Jewish unity
In favor of diversity
Against dividing the Kotel (Hebrew)
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Kipa, Jan. 28, 2016
Compromise Creates Two Western Walls for Two Peoples
Yair Ettinger, Haaretz, Jan. 31, 2016
In favor of religious uniformity
Mixed emotions about the Kotel compromise
Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, Jewish Journal, Feb. 3, 2016
The paratroopers continue to cry (Hebrew)
Israel Harel, nrg, Feb. 7, 2016
Chief Rabbi says Kotel allocation a mistake
Rabbi David Lau (Chief Rabbi of Israel), Arutz7, Feb. 6, 2016
The Kotel lost. We all lost. (Hebrew)
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz (Rabbi of the Western Wall), ynet, Feb. 2, 2016
Not a victory but a bitter defeat
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz (Rabbi of the Western Wall), Jerusalem Post, Feb. 3, 2016
Does Anyone Really Benefit from ‘Balkanizing’ the Kotel?
Rabbi Avi Shafran (Agudath Israel of America), Feb. 2, 2016
In favor of cultural uniformity
The Kotel decision: A Sephardic Jew responds
Rabbi Daniel Bouskila, Jewish Journal, Feb. 3, 2016
Shut down the Kotel!
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, Times of Israel blogs, Feb. 17, 2016
The Kotel Deal Isn’t Good Enough
Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, The Jewish Week, Feb. 23, 2016
Argument: The agreement is a capitulation to the ultra-Orthodox establishment / Robinson’s Arch is “less than” the traditional Kotel plaza
Am Yisrael does not feel comfortable at the Kotel (Hebrew)
MK Rachel Azaria, News1, Feb. 4, 2016
Why the Kotel Compromise Just Isn’t Good Enough
Gabriela Geselowitz, The Forward, Jan. 31, 2016
Giving away the Kotel
Alden Solovy, Times of Israel, Feb. 5, 2017
Western Wall Prayer Space Deal Is a Capitulation to Fundamentalists
Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz, Jan. 31, 2016
Argument: Against (recognition of) non-Orthodoxy
“He can’t deal with pressure” (Hebrew) – the Chief Rabbis of Jerusalem oppose Rabbi Rabinowitz
Guy Ezra, Srugim, Jan. 31, 2016
Reform Jews should be sent to the dogs (Hebrew)
MK Meir Porush, Haredim10, Feb. 1, 2016
Ultra-Orthodox surrender = recognition of Reform (Hebrew)
Rabbi Chaim Shaulson, In the Haredi world, Feb. 5, 2016
Argument: Pluralistic plaza violates Waqf jurisdiction over Jerusalem’s holy places
Jordan tells Israel to halt Western Wall expansion plans
Times of Israel Staff, Times of Israel, Feb. 7, 2016
Argument: A hollow victory in the war over religion-state in Israel
What’s So Holy About the Western Wall Anyway?
Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz, Feb. 5, 2016
Ambivalent:
Argument: The Western Wall is not the most important religion & state issue in Israel / The agreement may distract from other issues of religion & state
Why the Western Wall deal is a victory for now, but not forever
Rabbi Debra Bennet, JTA, Feb. 8, 2016
The Kotel agreement: The good & the bad
Hiddush press release, Jan. 31, 2016
Is the Kotel Deal Merely a Fig Leaf For Rabbinic Tyranny?
Rabbi Uri Regev and Hiddush Chairman Stanley Gold, The Forward’s Sisterhood blog, Feb. 2, 2016
After Kotel compromise, dramatic changes still needed
Rabbi Uri Regev, The Jewish Journal, Feb. 3, 2016
Is the Kotel compromise good for the Jews? (Hebrew)
Rabbi Uri Regev, ynet, Feb. 6, 2016
Why the Kotel compromise matters – and doesn’t
Ben Sales, Times of Israel, Feb. 1 2016
We Progressive Jews Are Celebrating the Western Wall Deal but We’re Not Naïve
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, Haaretz, Feb. 1, 2016
Argument: Damaging to Jewish unity
The two Kotels solution: Cheer it with a grain of sadness
Shmuel Rosner, Jewish Journal, Feb. 1, 2016
Argument: This unlikely to lead to further necessary policy changes
After Historic Deal At Kotel, Next Steps Seen As Elusive
Hannah Dreyfus, The Jewish Week, Feb. 3, 2016
Argument: Betrayal of Modern Orthodox women and women’s prayer groups at traditional Kotel plaza
Kotel Deal Cuts Both Ways
Francine Klagsbrun, The Jewish Week, Feb. 9, 2016
Argument: The Kotel has come to symbolize dispute among Jews
The Wall of Disputes
Ariel Picard, Shalom Hartman Institute, Feb. 15, 2016
