Jerusalem – Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch rejects claims that he forbade the Jewish Agency to hold a reception ceremony for new immigrants at the holy Jerusalem site for religious reasons.
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Talking to Ynet on Monday, the rabbi clarified that “the policy in the past few years allows holding only prayer services and military ceremonies at the plaza, and any other event is not allowed even if it is held by haredim in full separation (between men and women).”
According to Rabinovitch, the holy site “is not a banquet hall”, and therefore “clear rules” were set several years ago stating that only prayer events would be held at the site.
He said he “rejects two or three such requests a day,” but stressed that he would agree to host military events like soldiers’ swearing in ceremonies or memorial, as this has been a tradition for many years.
The rabbi said that about a year ago he approved reception ceremonies for new immigrants at the Western Wall after the Jewish Agency said they were all religious and that the event included a prayer. Since then, the JA has filed several similar requests, and in the latest incident, when he found out it was no longer a prayer event, the request was denied, (as was reported at that time here on VIN News).
“This has nothing to do with religion or a world view,” he insisted. “No one wants to pray with a speech by a minister, rabbi or public figure in the background. This disrupts the activity at the Wall.”
Following the recent publications on the matter, Rabbi Rabinovitch accused elements in the JA of “misusing the Wall for political needs with all kinds of false claims.”
He added, “I see no difference between them and the radical Muslims who claimed that Israel was burying under it and launched riots. Those are setting fire to the Temple Mount and these are setting fire to our internal home.”
The local rabbi stressed that the status-quo at the Western Wall was being maintained, and that in accordance with a High Court ruling, a joint prayer for men and women would be allowed at the nearby Robinson Arch.
He said that the hundreds of thousands of people who visited the Wall during the High Holidays show that everyone feels connected to the site. “It is run with gentle arrangements and great sensitivity to any worldview.”
Despite his claims against elements in the Jewish Agency, Rabinovitch noted that he has been discussing the matter with JA Chairman Natan Sharansky. He said he believed the sides would reach an agreement that the part related to prayer in each ceremony would be held at the Wall and the other parts would be held in a nearby place.
A JA source confirmed to Ynet that talks were being held with the Western Wall rabbi in order to find an alternative place for the ceremonies, after learning that “at the plaza itself it was quite uncomfortable.”
The JA told Ynet in response, “The Agency has been holding reception ceremonies for new immigrants at the Western Wall for about a year now, in order to connect the experience of immigrating to Israel with the experience of visiting the most holy site to the Jewish people.
“The Jewish Agency plans to continue holding the ceremony near the Western Wall, with all members of the immigrants’ families – women, men and children – experiencing the moving event together.”
Kol HaKovad Rav Rabinovitch! Its about time someone takes a stand ofr Kedusha! And to Aish I ask; How can you mekarev yidden to Orthodoxy when you dont practice it? YOu are endorsing apikorses movements and untznius ceremonies on the roof of your yeshiva. have you no shame?
The Rav is right and the kosel should be limited to davening and religious services and ALL other uses should be prohibited. This should be applied equally and would restrict political events disguised as “prayer sessions” where those opposed to government policies post pashkevelim telling the eidah to come to the kosel to demonstrate against the latest atrocity (where the demonstration includes screaming a few kapital tehiliim). Likewise, the secular should not be using the kosel as a backdrop for their political statements.
I agree completely with R’ Rabinovitch. I was in Eretz Yisroel over the summer and visited the Kotel a few times. I was shocked and disappointed at the lack of decorum. Its become more of a tourist trap like the Statue of Liberty than the holiest site on Earth for Jews. Too many tourists not dressed appropriately, too many cameras, too many people laughing and fooling around. People at the Kotel should behave they would in shul on Yom Kippur when the aron is open.
He is right somone with some common sense how we need more like him to show the world that not everything is religen or politics
I would add that E.Y. is not an amusement park. I hear people talking abuot their trip to Israel – all they talk about is the boating, hiking, hotel hopping, restaurants and etc.
Give me a break! In the times when the Bait Hamikdash was standing that was an area where in theory anyone could go to do anything. It was right off a main shopping area. Do you think it was an area for prayer only? There were probably cows and birds on their way to the Bait Hamikdash, people selling everything anyone could possibly need. Babies crying. People shrieking and complaining about prices. The kotel, kadosh though it may be to us now, was the outer retaining wall of the mountain that held up the Beit Hamikdash. In theory it is like saying that Americans should worship at the fences around the white house.
Just b/c some immigrants decided to come also doesnt make “holy” either and also the fact that it is allowed for the military is hypocritical there is nothing “holy about that either! Half if not more of the army does not even wear yarmulkas…and “that’s holy!” ya rite!…..They also go there and dance on Friday night! what a disgrace to a place of Avielus and great sadness! The wall should only be used for davening and tearing kriya! not a tourist site!