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Women of the Wall

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
Conservative rabbis pray at the Ezrat Yisrael egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, December 12, 2024. (Courtesy/ File)
February 20, 2026, 2:24 am
High Court tells state to advance Western Wall egalitarian plaza upgrade, without further delays
Chief rabbis claim justices overstepped their authority with ruling, while Shas leader Aryeh Deri accuses them of trying to ‘desecrate’ Western Wall
By Rossella Tercatin
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
Jews pray for the army's success in the war against Hamas and the return of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on January 10, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
January 11, 2024, 4:52 pm
‘Impoverished, broken and in pain’: Thousands at Western Wall mass prayer for hostages
With 100 days of captivity fast approaching for abductees, crowds seek their salvation through God
By Canaan Lidor
Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar praying for forgiveness (Selichot), at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, early on September 25, 2022, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
September 27, 2023, 12:46 pm
High Court: State must explain why it hasn’t disciplined Jerusalem chief rabbi
Court gives government 21 days to respond regarding lack of action over Shlomo Amar’s comments disparaging Reform Jews, LGBTQ community, Women of the Wall
By ToI Staff
Members of the Women of the Wall, Conservative and Reform Movements hold Rosh Hodesh prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, March 4, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 20, 2023, 6:48 pm
Court bans Torah bag searches at Western Wall, in limited win for Women of the Wall
Ruling nonetheless reaffirms that attendants at holy site may enforce rules preventing women from using scripture in ‘unauthorized ways’ once they enter complex
By Canaan Lidor
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
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
Labor MK and Reform Rabbi Gilad Kariv holds up a Torah scroll in the women's section of the Western Wall on December 25, 2022. (Hila Shiloni/Women of the Wall)
December 25, 2022, 11:32 am
Reform rabbi MK brings Torah scroll to women’s section of Western Wall, drawing ire
Labor lawmaker Kariv defends his move, which comes as ultra-Orthodox parties seek to outlaw female-led services at the Jerusalem holy site
By Judah Ari Gross
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
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