In line with the effort of the Women For the Wall organization, HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita has instructed seminaries to release students from class to permit them to travel to the Kosel on Friday morning, Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5773, to create a presence to oppose the actions of the Women of Wall (WoW) organization. Rav Shteinman’s call is echoed by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, who called on his mosdos to take part in the tefilla as well.

Similarly, dati leumi women backed by rabbonim including HaGaon HaRav Dov Lior Shlita are planning to make their way to the Kosel too, hoping to arrive at 06:30, when the Women of the Wall are scheduled to arrive.

The new effort surrounds the recent Jerusalem District Court decision permitting the Women of the Wall to daven at the Kosel with tallis and tefilin. Prominent rabbonim felt that a large presence of bnos Yisrael to counter the renegade actions of WoW would be appropriate, and this impetus received the bracha of Rav Shteinman. It is stressed that the frum women who will be attending are to daven and not get pulled into any controversy chas v’sholom, stressing the need for Kiddush Hashem.

The WoW organization has been waging a battle for decades to permit women to hold a prayer forum at the Kosel and daven with tallis, tefilin and a Sefer Torah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)