Women of the Wall going ahead with priestly blessing

Women of the Wall says it will proceed with the priestly blessing on Sunday, despite the attorney general’s ruling barring the group from doing so. Mandelblit said earlier the practice violated the Western Wall’s “local custom.”

“We disagree with the attorney general’s jurisdiction since the holidays prayers of Shaharit and Mussaf include in them the Priestly Blessings, and these prayers are part of the ‘local custom’ as stated by the ruling of Judge Sobel,” says Riki Shapira, an attorney and Women of the Wall board member, in a statement.

“It is infuriating that the decision was given to us at the last moment, without the benefit of hearing our side before making it, as required by Israel’s Administrative Law. Also, the decision was made at such a time that we cannot appeal it to the Supreme Court,” she says.

“Women of the Wall believe that following today’s events, hundreds of women will join the women’s festive prayer that will take place, as planned, on Sunday morning, first day of Hol Hamoed, at 8:45 AM, in the women’s section of the Western Wall,” she added.

Shapira says transportation will be provided from “all over the country, just as planned.”