Despite winning court battle, group cancels outdoor Yom Kippur prayers in Tel Aviv

Citing concern of saboteurs disrupting gender-separated services even after court confirmed their legality, Rosh Yehudi says they’ll be held inside to keep the peace

Mati Wagner is The Times of Israel's religions reporter.

Secular and Orthodox activists clash after the religious Rosh Yehudi group sets up a gender divider made of Israeli flags in defiance of a municipality decision at a public prayer service in Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur, September 24, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash 90)
Secular and Orthodox activists clash after the religious Rosh Yehudi group sets up a gender divider made of Israeli flags in defiance of a municipality decision at a public prayer service in Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur, September 24, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash 90)

Despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling in its favor, Orthodox Jewish outreach movement Rosh Yehudi announced Thursday it would not go through with its plans for outdoor communal prayers on Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv for the sake of peace and unity.

“At this time of war, as soldiers risk their lives in heroic battles and the nation prays for the peaceful return of our hostages, the way to victory, defeat of the enemy, and the return of our hostages is by adding holiness, unity and internal peace,” said Rosh Yehudi head Israel Zeira in a press release.

Zeira said the decision to cancel came due to concern saboteurs would attempt to disrupt the event.

Ahead of Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling permitting the group to hold Yom Kippur prayers complete with a barrier that separates men and women, activists who said they wanted to protect Tel Aviv’s secular character reportedly vowed to disrupt the prayers no matter what the court ruled.

“Unfortunately, we heard about plans to ruin the prayers, despite their legality,” Zeira said. “Out of a sense of responsibility, we choose to pray inside our synagogue, to accept the insult without reacting in kind.”

The Supreme Court ruled that the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality had to accept a compromise that would allow gender-segregated prayers this Yom Kippur.

A court hearing on holding the traditional Yom Kippur prayer in a public space, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 9, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The court chose the venue of Meir Park instead of Dizengoff Square, where Rosh Yehudi originally asked to hold the prayers.

“We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court which stated the simple truth: In the State of Israel, praying according to Jewish tradition even in the public space is self-evident,” said the Rosh Yehudi statement.

Head of Rosh Yehudi, Israel Zeira (right), arrives for a court hearing on holding the traditional Yom Kippur prayer in a public space, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 9, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

“This is not about gender exclusion or a simple provocation. A partition between men and women has been a Jewish custom for generations. With God’s help, there will still be prayers in public spaces throughout the country, as well as in Tel Aviv, the very first Hebrew city,” it said.

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