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Western Wall mixed-gender plaza

Conservative/Masorti Movement leaders praying at the egalitarian plaza at the Western Wall in October 2025. (Courtesy MERCAZ Olami)
March 16, 2026, 5:17 pm
Knesset committee advances bill expanding Orthodox control over Western Wall Plaza
Controversial legislation referred to Knesset Constitution Committee; Women of the Wall say Israel ‘spitting’ in the face of Diaspora Jewry
By Sam Sokol
A tourist walks on the temporary egalitarian prayer platform, built in 2013 in Jerusalem's Old City Davidson Archeology Park, as seen on April 12, 2016. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)
February 18, 2026, 12:25 am
Local and state government trade blame over delays upgrading Western Wall egalitarian plaza
High Court of Justice holds hearing on status of religious right at Jerusalem’s holy site for first time in years, demands answers on why 2017 directive by PM not yet implemented
By Rossella Tercatin
A boy celebrates his bar mitzvah on the egalitarian Ezrat Israel plaza near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel on June 19, 2023. (Courtesy of the Masorti Movement in Israel)
February 17, 2026, 8:21 am
High Court to hold hearing on Western Wall egalitarian services for first time in years
Liberal Jewish groups seek to ensure full rights for egalitarian prayers despite ultra-Orthodox opposition, long after government nixed compromise on the matter
By Rossella Tercatin
Graffiti reading 'There is a Holocaust in Gaza' seen spray painted on Jerusalem's Western Wall on August 11, 2025. (Conservation Division/Israel Antiquities Authority)
August 11, 2025, 5:38 pm
‘Holocaust in Gaza’ graffiti sprayed on Western Wall, reportedly by troubled Haredi man
Officials and politicians across the aisle condemn the act; judge reportedly orders the 27-year-old suspect, a resident of Jerusalem, hospitalized in psychiatric ward
By Rossella Tercatin and Sam Sokol
Ofri Meoded Danon and his mother celebrate his bar mitzvah at the egalitarian plaza of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel in May 2023. (Courtesy of Meoded Danon)
June 23, 2023, 9:56 am
Red tape keeps non-Orthodox worshipers a stone’s throw from the Western Wall
5 years after stone collapse at holy site, authorities have yet to reopen access to Wall at egalitarian section; religious activists argue delay is deliberate
By Canaan Lidor
The mixed prayer area outside the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem's Old City on August 25, 2013. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 17, 2023, 2:40 am
US urges Israel to advance frozen deal for Western Wall egalitarian space
Diplomat’s tweet appears to be first time Biden administration weighs in on issue, which has been major source of tension in Israel-Disaspora ties
By Jacob Magid
A Palestinian gestures to Israeli military vehicles during clashes in the West Bank city of Nablus, February 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
February 23, 2023, 1:15 pm
Daily Briefing Feb. 23: After bloody IDF op in Nablus, revenge rockets from Gaza
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian explains why the recent flare-up is more wide-scale than many perceive; Diaspora affairs reporter Judah Ari Gross on clashes at the Western Wall
By ToI Staff
Reform rabbis and supporters of Women of the Wall march to the Western Wall with a sign protesting a bill that would criminalize women wearing prayer shawls at the holy site, on February 22, 2023. (Central Conference of American Rabbis)
February 22, 2023, 11:28 am
Reform rabbis assailed as they try to bring Torah scrolls to women at Western Wall
Members of the Noam party’s youth movement overrun holy site’s egalitarian section, are escorted out by police
By Judah Ari Gross
A view of the egalitarian plaza, often referred to as 'Robinson's Arch,' at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on December 30, 2021. (Amy Spiro/Times of Israel)
February 17, 2023, 12:50 am
Government tells High Court it still plans to improve Western Wall egalitarian plaza
Responding to multiple court petitions, state says it is working to implement long-stalled, six-year-old cabinet decision, angering both liberal and conservative groups
By Judah Ari Gross
People gather to hear a reading of the Book of Lamentations at the egalitarian section of the Western Wall on August 6, 2022. (Judah Ari Gross/Times of Israel)
February 9, 2023, 5:07 pm
Amid furor, PM shelves bill that would criminalize mixed prayer at Western Wall
Nixing egalitarian prayer area, Shas proposal provided for jail terms or fines for mixed-gender prayer, immodest clothing; Netanyahu: ‘It won’t come up right now; status quo stays’
By Ash Obel and Michael Bachner
A boy reads from the Torah as part of his bar mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall's egalitarian section in Jerusalem on November 17, 2022. (Egalitarian section/Facebook)
February 9, 2023, 1:43 pm
Coalition bill would ban mixed prayer anywhere at Western Wall, nix egalitarian plaza
Legislation sets jail term for mixed-gender prayer, immodest clothing, criminalizes Women of Wall activity; amid outrage, PM says bill ‘won’t come up right now,’ status quo to stay
By Michael Bachner
US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides attends a Hanukkah candle lighting at the egalitarian plaza of the Western Wall in Jerusalem on December 20, 2022.(Reform Movement in Israel)
December 20, 2022, 11:25 pm
US envoy Nides attends Reform candle lighting at Western Wall’s egalitarian plaza
Gantz heckled at ceremony in men’s section of plaza, drawing condemnation from Haredi party leader; Women of the Wall hold their own lighting, lamenting exclusion from main event
By Judah Ari Gross and Jacob Magid
Members of Women of the Wall gather around a Torah scroll the group smuggled in for their Rosh Hodesh prayers marking the new month at the Western Wall, where women are forbidden from reading from the Torah, December 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
December 8, 2022, 11:16 am
Haredi party said to demand law banning all non-Orthodox prayer at Western Wall
Reform movement and Women of the Wall come out fiercely against proposal to nix all mixed-gender services at the holy site, including in its egalitarian section
By Judah Ari Gross
A view of the egalitarian plaza, often referred to as 'Robinson's Arch,' at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on December 30, 2021. (Amy Spiro/Times of Israel)
November 6, 2022, 4:35 pm
Jewish Agency: Police will be deployed to guard Western Wall’s egalitarian section
Organization says it’s working to improve security at Jerusalem Old City’s ‘Ezrat Yisrael’ prayer site and better explain its importance to Israelis after disruptions this summer
By Judah Ari Gross
US Deputy Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Antisemitism Aaron Keyak, right, meets with Western Wall Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch in the latter's office in Jerusalem on October 6, 2022. (US State Department)
October 30, 2022, 3:31 am
In Israel, US monitor defends pressing government on ‘antisemitism’ at Western Wall
Antisemitism envoy Aaron Keyak says Jerusalem understands Washington wanting to keep Jews safe at prayer; tells ToI Kanye comments are fair game for office, but not Trump’s
By Judah Ari Gross
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