ANAT HOFFMAN

In 2016 Hoffman was part of a congregation of Jews who carried Holy Torahs (Handwritten scrolls of the first 5 Books of the Old Testament and most sacred document to Jewish people) to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The group included men and women. With the religious politics of Israel, the “custody and management” of the holiest of Jewish site, the Western Wall of the original Temple, had been awarded to an Ultra-Orthodox sect which had ruled that women should not be allowed to pray at the Wailing Wall—only males. The majority of Jews, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Modern have no such gender bias. When they were rebuffed beforeaall, the case ended up in the Israeli Supreme Court which ruled that women as well as man had an absolute right to pray. After some delay, the government created an area where women and gender integrated groups could pray and hold ceremonies at The Wall. However, the ultra orthodox, still managing the facility, also believed that women carrying and leading prayers from a Torah was sacrilegious. When the mixed gender group approached The Wall with Torahs, a mob of ultra orthodox surrounded the gender integrated group and started roughing them up. The quotation describes the feelings of the the group who for the fist time since Israel regained control of the Western Wall in 1967 (Arabs then prevented any Jews from praying at The Wal) had a gender mixed group of Jews conduct a service at the Wailing Wall.

Some of the Homopbobic Rabbis prevailed on the government to block adoptions by homosexual couples who are otherwise well qualified.

There are 3 branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. The state of Israel however only recognizes the Orthodox and Orthodox Rabbis. Muslim or Christian couples can be married by an Imam, Minister or Priest of their choosing. Reform and Conservative Jewish Israeli’s cannot marry in Israel unless they choose and Orthodox Rabbi and have an Orthodox wedding ceremony. So they often go to Cypress, an Eastern Orthodox Christian country which allows any ordained rabbi to perform weddings unlike in Israel. This anomaly dates back to the inception of Israel as a recognized state, under attack by many Arab armies. The orthodox Jews in Israel would not support the fledgling state unless they would be given civil control over family and religious matters. The majority of Israelis are not orthodox and oppose the monopoly given to the Orthodox. However, politically the Orthodox have enough seats on the Knesset (Parliament) so that they can usually make the difference in the polarized Israeli politics of which coalition will be in power. Therefor the status quo remains.

There are very few people who brag about their arrest record, but reformers who resort to Civil Disobedience are unusual in many ways

There are 3 branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. The state of Israel however only recognizes the Orthodox and Orthodox Rabbis. Muslim or Christian couples can be married by an Imam, Minister or Priest of their choosing. Reform and Conservative Jewish Israeli’s cannot marry in Israel unless they choose and Orthodox Rabbi and have an Orthodox wedding ceremony. So they often go to Cypress, an Eastern Orthodox Christian country which allows any ordained rabbi to perform weddings unlike in Israel. This anomaly dates back to the inception of Israel as a recognized state, under attack by many Arab armies. The orthodox Jews in Israel would not support the fledgling state unless they would be given civil control over family and religious matters. The majority of Israelis are not orthodox and oppose the monopoly given to the Orthodox. However, politically the Orthodox have enough seats on the Knesset (Parliament) so that they can usually make the difference in the polarized Israeli politics of which coalition will be in power. Therefor the status quo remains.

In 2016 Hoffman was part of a congregation of Jews who carried Holy Torahs (Handwritten scrolls of the first 5 Books of the Old Testament and most sacred document to Jewish people) to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The group included men and women. With the religious politics of Israel, the “custody and management” of the holiest of Jewish site, the Western Wall of the original Temple, had been awarded to an Ultra-Orthodox sect which had ruled that women should not be allowed to pray at the Wailing Wall—only males. The majority of Jews, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Modern have no such gender bias. When they were rebuffed beforeaall, the case ended up in the Israeli Supreme Court which ruled that women as well as man had an absolute right to pray. After some delay, the government created an area where women and gender integrated groups could pray and hold ceremonies at The Wall. However, the ultra orthodox, still managing the facility, also believed that women carrying and leading prayers from a Torah was sacrilegious. When the mixed gender group approached The Wall with Torahs, a mob of ultra orthodox surrounded the gender integrated group and started roughing them up. The quotation describes the feelings of the the group who for the fist time since Israel regained control of the Western Wall in 1967 (Arabs then prevented any Jews from praying at The Wal) had a gender mixed group of Jews conduct a service at the Wailing Wall.

There are very few people who brag about their arrest record, but reformers who resort to Civil Disobedience are unusual in many ways

Some of the Homopbobic Rabbis prevailed on the government to block adoptions by homosexual couples who are otherwise well qualified.