A Message from Women of the Wall

Dear friends and supporters,

Today marks one of the darkest moments in our parliament’s history.
 

A bill has passed granting Israel’s chief rabbis sweeping legal control over the Western Wall — including the authority to define what constitutes “desecration” and to impose prison sentences of up to seven years. Seven years in prison for the so-called offense of praying freely.
 

This is not only extreme — it is an absurdity.

The law effectively declares that there is only one legitimate way to be Jewish at our holiest site. It places unchecked power in the hands of political appointees who have openly opposed Women of the Wall, the Reform and Conservative movements, LGBTQ individuals, and other minorities. Under this legislation, a woman wearing a prayer shawl or reading from the Torah could be deemed a criminal. The Chief Sephardi Rabbi and the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi will now hold supreme authority over every behavior, dress, custom, or practice at the Wall — and they will have the power to send us to jail.
 

This must be stopped.
 

Beyond its immediate impact, this law sends a devastating message to Jewish communities around the world — communities that have stood with Israel morally, politically, and financially. How are they to understand a law that criminalizes the very forms of Jewish practice that define their spiritual lives?
 

We refuse to accept a future in which prayer becomes a crime.

We need some serious action that can create a powerful ripple effect:
 
1. Press your local Federation.
Contact your Federation leadership and urge them — both independently and through JFNA — to press Israel’s government immediately. Our past experience with the Kotel Agreement showed that private assurances and closed-door meetings are not enough. Prime Minister Netanyahu must publicly state that this bill will not be allowed to become law. 

2. Mobilize your community to contact Israeli diplomats.
Share the email address of the Israeli Ambassador or Consul General closest to your community and urge community members to write immediately. Clergy and key lay leaders should also demand an urgent meeting with their Ambassador or Consul General.
Suggested message (which may be personalized):

Dear xx,
I am writing to express my outrage and strong opposition to MK Avi Maoz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s extreme legislation to delegitimize Conservative and Reform Jews and drive us away from the Kotel by effectively threatening us with prison time for praying according to our custom at the Egalitarian Kotel. After these past difficult years — when my community has stood by Israel and faced increasing antisemitism — it is inconceivable that the Israeli government would move forward with extreme legislation to marginalize us at our holiest site. The Prime Minister must publicly declare that this bill will not be allowed to become law.

·     Washington — ambassador@washington.mfa.gov.il

·     New York — cg@newyork.mfa.gov.il

·     Miami — concal@miami.mfa.gov.il

·     Boston — cg@boston.mfa.gov.il

·     Houston — cg@houston.mfa.gov.il

·     Los Angeles — cg@la.mfa.gov.il

·     Atlanta — cg@atlanta.mfa.gov.il

·     San Francisco — consul.general@sf.mfa.gov.il

·     Chicago — cg@chicago.mfa.gov.il

·     Ottawa — ambassador@ottawa.mfa.gov.il

·     Toronto — consul.general@toronto.mfa.gov.il

·     Montreal — cg@montreal.mfa.gov.il


Your partnership brings light in moments of darkness. With your love and support and most importantly, your action,  we will stand firm until justice is served.   

Thank you for standing with us.