The Israeli Rabbinate has declined to send a representative to participate in a planned event at the Western Wall later this week after initially agreeing to attend.
The Rabbinate backed out, however, after receiving a notice that a representative from the Reform Movement would also attend the event, planned by the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee.
“It would be best if the Chief Rabbis personally gave their opinions on the matter to the Internal Affairs Committee, rather than through representatives,” said a letter sent to Rabbinate director Moshe Dagan from the offices of the Chief Rabbis. “The Honorable Chief Rabbis have already participated in tours of the Western Wall plaza,” the letter continued,” and have presented their positions on the issue.”
The letter was written in reference to the planned alterations to the Western Wall plaza, adopted by the government in response to a Supreme Court ruling that the Reform Movement be given a separate section at the site in which to worship.
