In an apparent about-face, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has reportedly forbidden progressive Jewish movements from holding egalitarian services at the Western Wall on Thursday, Haaretz reports.
According to the media outlet, Mandelblit said he would no longer allow the services by the Reform and Conservative movements after a legal adviser for the Religious Services Ministry asked him to halt the planned prayer, which would be gender neutral.
The services were scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and planned to coincide with the new Jewish month. Mandelblit will not intervene in a separate service by Women of the Wall also planned for Thursday morning.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men yell and protest the Reform and Conservative Jewish men and women as they hold a prayer service in front of the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on June 16, 2016. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
A service by the progressive streams last month was not opposed by Mandelblit, though it drew violent protests from ultra-Orthodox worshipers at the site, the holiest spot where Jews can pray.
The move comes as liberal Jewish streams have protested foot dragging by the government in pushing ahead with a plan to create a new multidenominational prayer space directly south of the Western Wall plaza.
In response, the Reform movement says it will not break the law, but will still convene tomorrow at the Western Wall, as well as prepare a court challenge, Haaretz reports.
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