Jerusalem Pulls Funding for Hanukkah Concert After Organizers Cancel Women’s Section

JERUSALEM – The Jerusalem Municipality said Wednesday it will withdraw funding from a planned Hanukkah concert for the haredi community at the International Convention Center after organizers decided to eliminate the women’s section and make the event men-only, according to Arutz 7.

The concert, featuring popular haredi singer Naftali Kempeh, was originally planned with separate seating for men and women, consistent with haredi norms. But after ticket sales opened, women who had purchased seats were informed that the women’s section was being canceled and that they would receive full refunds.

Organizers explained the move in a message to ticket holders, saying the decision was made “out of a desire not to serve as a basis or pretext to allow other events that do not comply with the rabbis’ directives,” adding that they made the “difficult and demanding decision” to cancel the women’s section entirely and proceed as a men-only event.

The shift followed a series of public letters from leading Lithuanian (non-hassidic) rabbis — including Rabbi Dov Lando and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch — who ruled that mixed-gender music events are forbidden even when the audience is seated separately. One letter published in Yated Ne’eman stated: “We were pained to hear that they are holding music events that are open to both boys and girls… this is a very serious breach of all that is holy.”

In a further statement, organizers apologized to “the hundreds of women who purchased tickets,” promising full refunds for all. Kempeh also addressed the decision, saying, “I understand that the reality causes pain to the Torah-observant community, and I don’t want a part of that… May we merit to sanctify Hashem’s name.