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25 Iyar 5760 - May 31, 2000 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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News
U.S. Aguda: Kosel Ruling a Travesty

by B. Sapir

Agudas Yisroel of America has denounced the recent High Court decision to allow a group of women to conduct a formal women's service at the Kosel Hama'aravi, complete with chanting, Torah reading and talitot.

Rav Shmuel Bloom, the organization's executive vice president, explained that the court's decision would create a situation in which religious Jews--who constitute the overwhelming majority of those who frequent the Kosel-- would be unable to pray there.

He openly questioned why matters of religion are being decided by a secular court, rather than religious experts.

"With a law on the books in Israel barring ceremonies at the Kosel that are `not according to local custom,' the Agudas Yisroel leader asserted that the High Court ruling defines the concept of a legitimate Jewish custom as anything a group of Jews decide they wish to do.

"That is arrogant, disdainful of 3000 years of Jewish tradition and a travesty of justice," Rav Bloom said. "Such an approach, needless to say, bodes ill for the Jewish future. As we approach Shevuos, we should be particularly aware that true Jewish unity is only achieved neged hohor, facing Har Sinai, the source of Jewish tradition.

"We in America know well where the path of ish kol hayashar b'eynov, each person doing what he thinks is proper, leads. We are reaping the bitter harvest of intermarriage and assimilation that was planted by self- declared `versions of Judaism.' We fear that Israel's High Court is leading Israeli society down the same treacherous path."


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