An organization called "Rosh Yehudi" sought, as it has done for many years, to hold services in a public space in the 'state of Tel Aviv'. This is not a chareidi organization but a liberal National-Religious one whose members all served a full term in the army and which does not seek to coerce anyone [religious-wise] — but simply to hold an event in the city precincts, as it has very successfully done in past years.
It is easy to see that the street is a place to hold services without coercion, as was done during Covid, for example. Factually speaking, the prayers which were held in the recent past drew many Jews from various strata of the population, many of whom would not have attended services in shuls. This is a religious organization and it seeks to hold these services, as is done in all places of worship, with separation between men and women.
Citizens concerned about 'religious plurality' appealed to the Tel Aviv municipality and the mayor, which prohibited such services on Rosh Hashanah, while deigning to allow a Yom Kippur service of a mere hour-and-a-half, and this, while also forbidding separation of men and women during the prayers. The Rosh Yehudi organization announced that if this ban on separation will be enforced, they will not hold the services at all.
There is not a shred of 'enlightenment' in the municipality's decision. It is an ongoing process of anti-religious pressure through bodies who loudly tout democracy while wielding the sword against coercion in their hands.
Tel Aviv, under the rule of Mayor Chuldai, has become a predatory city towards those who do not live according to the path which the leading municipal officials believe must be lived and thus duly conduct themselves.
Nonetheless, Moslems are permitted to hold prayer services in public areas with separation. Similarly, the municipality allows itself to hold some sport events for women only. But a religious event following according time-worn Jewish tradition is forbidden to be held in public areas. Under the credo of pluralism and liberalism, the Tel Aviv municipality demonstrates rapacious brutality towards those who seek to maintain Jewish tradition.
The hope is that 'from brazenness shall emerge sweetness.' For if the city carries out its threat, those thousands who would have converged on Dizengoff Square for a moving Ne'ilah service, including many for whom this would have been the only yearly tie to Judaism, may be aroused to seek Judaism in other, quieter places and hopefully, will eventually find themselves at parlor meetings or Arachim seminaries or their like, in order to find a response for their souls seeking spirituality. And there - 'will they be sprinkled with the holy waters of purification before Hashem.'
