Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem’s Old City HaGaon Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl Shlita sent a letter to Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon Rav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita dated Sunday, 12 Adar-I, ahead of the meeting of the Chief Rabbinate Council dealing with the egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel.

Rabbi Nebenzahl calls for doing everything possible to combat the Reform and Conservative Movements, which he refers to as the “Kofrim that uproot religion and harm everything holy to us regarding the Kosel, mikvaos and everything holy and pure”.

The rav points out the war being waged must be handled with “wisdom and understanding” and ultimately, everything must be done in consultation with gedolei yisrael, whom must be briefed and given the entire picture.

The rav reminds Rav Yosef that the High Court wanted to give these movements a portion of the Kosel 15 years ago, and at the time Maran HaGaon HaRav Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L paskened that the Kosel has the status of a ‘shul’ and a ‘holy place’ to Am Yisrael, and therefore, the possibility of giving them a locale at the southern area far from the tefilla area and this shows that unfortunately, these people have been acting contrary to the halacha and tradition and B”H to date most people are aware of this and distance themselves from that area.

The rav then refers to the current egalitarian prayer area, the result of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit’s plan, which he called the “lesser of the evils” available. “The Chief Rabbinate must work to minimize the Chilul Hashem and Chilul Kodesh while not backing down in the slightest regarding the Kosel, which maintains the status of a shul as Maranan Gedolei Yisrael ZT”L have ruled”.

Rav Nebenzahl calls on the Chief Rabbinate to give its backing to the Kosel Rav Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita, testifying to the latter’s tenacious efforts during recent years, giving his full backing and support to Rabbi Rabinowitz.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)