Chareidim opposed to the Women of the Wall (WoW) organization reportedly set a siddur ablaze while throwing items at the women at the Kosel. The event occurred on Friday, when the WoW supporters arrived for Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, the Times of Israel reports, quoting witnesses to the event.
About 150 women visited the Kosel on erev Shabbos in keeping with their monthly practice, and they were mocked by chareidim, some throwing items at them. WoW spokeswoman Elizabeth Kirshner is quoted explaining she saw a “siddur or prayer book” set ablaze by a number of chareidim, who ridiculed them as the book burned.
#Haredim harassed, chased, spit, rammed bicycles against, hit & more against women at the #WesternWall.
They also burned a prayer-book. We know from history that where books are burned, people will be burned. #Police did nothing. #Israel sanctions violence against women. pic.twitter.com/Rvvk7CX6mO
— (((SusanSilverman))) (@RabbaSusan) July 13, 2018
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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19 Responses
So?
It just goes to show how all charadi people get blamed because of this person’s actions. I know someone will comment here that the reform sidder can be burned but even if allowed in front of the media its not the smart thing to do.
I know sites such as this put out stories for shock value. Seforim used by reform have no kedusha.
There would be no excuse for such behavior.
However…
While I’m not one to give a knee jerk defense reaction, I have to wonder though. We’ve seen a number of negative reports about chareidim that turned out to be false. Do we know this story is factual? The only source mentioned in the story is a WoW spokeswoman.
Do the WoW folks have a siddur with a special nusach? Or did the Chareidim in this report burn a siddur with a widely used nusach?
Mrs. Kirshner claims that Chareidim burnt her Siddur. She probably saw a lot of Chareidim at the demonstration. She really does not know for sure, who is the guy who really burnt that item. I call that cheap talk and fake news for her to keep on blaming everything on the Chareidim.
Probably fake news as usual. It would be befitting for YW to investigate such claims before publicizing it.
I suspect there would be a somewhat higher level of concern if a WOW supporter were to set fire to the piles of siddurim and seforim siting on shtenders by the kosel and in the covered area going inside. These kind of demonstrations only serve to give them publicity and strengthen their resolve.
Is that “fake news”?
This is hearsay. It is interesting. With all the smartphones and video footage possibilities why have I only seen a single photo of this siddur and not one Chareidi in the background? Why is there only a close up shot and not a wide angle shot available? There is one video on a woman claiming to be threatened by over 50 Chareidim following her and yet you only get a glimps of a couple of chareidim behind her who seem to be walking calmly. It appears as if they are all walking the same direction up the hill to get to the Kosel. Interestingly, she never turns the camera on them, but rather has it almost the entire time focused on herself. Something tells me that this whole thing was staged.
someone makes a claim and now its news?
Good!
They are now referred to as: UWOW – Ugly Women Of the Wall.
Ugly non-Jewish practices, Ugly neshomas and just plain Ugly looking.
What they practice, Reform, is not Judaism.
I think he is right. It looks like the whole thing was staged.
in case anyone is interested their siddurim are nusach ariella.
just by it is is 100% mutar and your even mechuyav to burn them like the gemara says a sefer torah written by a kofer yisaref–a sefer torah kol shekain a siddur. and by the way honestly i think it is very good to do it in front of the cameras so people will know – reform has nothing to do with judaism.
why do the poople not protest the lousy liberal court system that permits these religious perverts to break the law and play pray in an area that is forbidden to do so?
and the lefty liberal news does not mention this either?
Fake news?
That picture is taken in someones private home on their porch. You can see buildings and AC units in the background so its obviously not at the Kosel.
Which leads to the question how would a chareidi get hold of thier siddur and how would she/he get it back after its been burned.
I would go so far as to suggest one of the WOW burnt it themselves.
A typical libel appropriate for Eastern Europe…1900s
of course chareidim did it.
who else in Israel is against women praying at the kotel?
who else there is so anti-reform Jews?
who else there throws stones and objects at people (including other chareidim) who dare to disagree with their religious views?
you can’t possibly be that stupid.