kotel

Jewish American leaders march on the Western Wall to protest the government reneging on an agreement to create an egalitarian prayer space, Jerusalem, November 2, 2016. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

To reach Diaspora Jews, start by acknowledging their struggles

Those who dismiss the struggle at the Western Wall because it ignores Palestinians should recognize how important the Kotel is to American Jews. Their struggle for justice might start at the Western Wall, but it doesn’t necessarily end there. By Rachel Canar Something unprecedented happened in Jerusalem on Wednesday. More than 200 people, including 12 rabbis —…

By +972 Magazine November 4, 2016

Women of the Wall praying at Kotel May 10, 2013 (Activestills)

WATCH: Will you use Western Wall’s new ‘mixed prayer plaza?’

After years of negotiations with reform and conservative movements of Judaism and ‘Women of the Wall,’ the Israeli government agreed to create an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where men and women can pray in the same space. We went to the Western Wall to ask people how they feel about…

By Social TV February 21, 2016

The Beaten Path: The Western Wall as military parade grounds (part 2)

It’s still beautiful and moving, but recent decades have done something strange to the ‘Kotel,’ our first stop along the deconstructed tourist trail. What happens when a site is the object of both religious longing and military identity? Read part one of The Beaten Path, ‘An introduction, or how to ruin a good story’ There are…

By Yuval Ben-Ami October 15, 2014

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Women of the Wall pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. March 12, 2013 (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

‘Why I cannot stand with Women of the Wall’

Nothing in Israel, or in the Middle East, is disconnected from anything else. Yet the issue of women’s religious access to the Kotel is treated, especially in North America, as if it exists in a vacuum. By Aryeh Cohen The story of Women of the Wall begins with the Wall. The story of the contemporary…

By +972 Magazine October 10, 2013

Women of the Wall supporters pray in solidarity with the women's prayer group near the Western Wall on June 9, 2013. (photo: Matt Surrusco, +972 Magazine)

Supporting roles: Men stand in solidarity with Women of the Wall

While the running debate at the Western Wall has been over women’s prayer, Jewish men have been playing a supporting role in shifting ‘local custom.’ Women of the Wall may be exactly what their name implies: women. But standing and praying in solidarity with them this month were several dozen Jewish men. In between police…

By Matt Surrusco June 10, 2013

Women of the Wall praying at Kotel May 10, 2013 (Activestills)

WATCH: Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest women’s prayer at Western Wall

For the first time in 24 years, Israel Police protected nearly 500 Women of the Wall members Friday morning as they gathered at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem for their monthly prayer service. The women were confronted by thousands of ultra-Orthodox protesters, both young girls who watched from the side and men of all ages, who…

By Mairav Zonszein May 10, 2013

Anat Hoffman of Women of the Wall (Nshot Ha-Kotel) arrested at the Western Wall, Old City of Jerusalem (photo: Women of the Wall)

3 women arrested while praying at Western Wall in 24 hours

Head of Women of the Wall was held in custody the entire night after trying to pray at the holy site while wearing a prayer shawl – a practice reserved only for men, according to Orthodox Judaism. Three members of Women of the Wall (Neshot Hakotel), a group of Jewish women which seeks to conduct prayers and…

By Noam Sheizaf October 16, 2012

Abbott & Costello try to figure out who’s where & what in Israel

A couple of days ago, I came across this clip – one the greatest (if not THE greatest) comedy skits of all time. If you’re not familiar with it (really?) please play, and enjoy. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aehzwwD2II&feature=related[/youtube] Inspiration kicked in, and I wrote two of my own versions. I couldn’t decide which one I wanted to post,…

By Ami Kaufman September 21, 2010