Jewish Journal: Why did you join Women of the Wall?
Stav Shaffir: This struggle is not only about the equal right for women to pray. It is a much wider struggle, which symbolizes our fight for the freedom of religion in Israel — our freedom to live how we want to live, with our own beliefs and our own personal way of practicing Judaism or other religions. It is about how and where we choose to pray, but also about every other aspect of our lives. Nowadays, marriage, women’s rights and the most intimate, important choices of our lives are all in the hands of a small and powerful group within Judaism — the Orthodox, which many times doesn’t see, or is not respectful enough, of other forms of practices.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/qa_with_israeli_mk_stav_shaffir
Another admission from WoW member that this isn’t just about wanting to pray at the Kotel, its to further their broader agenda… Which is political, and should be done in the Knesset and supreme court, not in Judaism’s most holy site.
I don’t understand what she is complaining about. There is total freedom of religion in Israel. Christians, Muslims, Buddists, Bahais, whatevers, all worship in their own ways with complete freedom and tolerance.
Her position is just as political as yours, Ronit. You don’t want WoW to bring Reform to Israel and she doesn’t want the Orthodox to limit her religious expression. Stop pretending you are different.
False, MP. I don’t want to ban Reform from Israel. I just think the fight to change how the law relates to Judaism, etc… is something that belongs in the houses of law- the Knesset and Supreme Court, not in the Kotel, Judaism’s most holy place today.
mp, I thought reform already exists in Israel. I’m pretty sure the Orthodox don’t want to limit her religious expression, they just don’t want a minority, non traditional service taking place in one of Judaism’s holiest sites when it could take place elsewhere, or are you suggesting that prayer at the Kotel is absolutely essential for one’s religious expression ?
Ronit, I would be wary of leaving this matter to the Supreme Court ( the institution that really runs Israel ). I believe that the administration of the Kotel should be in the hands of the Orthodox. After all, if I’m not mistaken, up until about 200 years ago all Jews were Orthodox whether they practiced Judaism or not.
They have been fighting this in the Knesset and the courts, of course.
The gatherings at the Wall, near as I can tell, are only “political” in the sense that their opponents make them out to be. If their actions were *only* through the legislative & judicial system, then their argument about wanting to pray at the Kotel would ring a bit hollow.
Jon
The so called “supreme court”in israel is really the most anti-torah institution in the world. they are fanatically anti-religious and secular. G-d forbid ANY legislation regarding reality and Torah is in their hands. Moshiach should come now and get rid of that evil institution.