Supreme Court hearing on the Kotel Agreement

ollowing this morning’s Israel Supreme Court hearing on the Kotel Agreement, WZO Vice Chairman Dr Yizhar Hess, senior representative of MERCAZ, the Masorti/Conservative faction at the National Institutions, shared:

“There’s no excuse that the Israeli government didn’t use in trying to delay today’s hearing. Ten years of playing dumb – even a building order from the Jerusalem Municipality they couldn’t bring, each time with an amazingly creative excuse. It was amazing to see lawyers for the state and the Jerusalem Municipality sling mud at one another in an attempt to distract from them intentionally dragging their feet over the years. I hope today’s hearing will put an end to this charade. With the Kotel Agreement, the Conservative and Reform Movements paid a heavy price – we made concessions and sacrifices in order to receive a small piece of heaven, the Egalitarian Kotel. Yet even this small piece the Israeli government won’t give. Millions of Jews around the world are watching the Supreme Court, deflated by the government’s actions. Instead of embracing these Jews who have stood by Israel these past few challenging years, this government is determined to distance them.”

In the Photo: With Masorti Israel CEO Rabbi Doron Rubin, RA President Rabbi Jay Kornsgold, USCJ/RA CEO Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, WLCJ Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Wolintz Fields, MAROM CEO and Women of the Wall Vice Chairwoman Tammy Gottleib along with Women of the Wall Chairwoman Anat Hoffman.