Rav of the Kosel & Holy Sites Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz on Wednesday, 1 Adar I, addressed the controversy surrounding the decision to establish an egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel.

Rabbi Rabinowitz spoke with Kol Chai Radio, explaining he has been at the forefront of the battle to prevent this reality for years.

He spoke of his uphill battle over recent years and his tenacious opposition to giving in to the non-Orthodox streams of Judaism at all cost. At the end of the interview he stated that if the area is in fact created and there are prayer services with men and women without a mechitzah, he will hand in his keys and resign from his position.

“If in the next weeks the court will rule to establish a Reform area in the current Kosel Plaza, or an Aron Kodesh with Sifrei Torah in the women’s section, I will turn to Gedolei Yisrael and give them the keys and resign” he stated.

It is noted that the rabbi was careful in selecting his words, speaking of the “current Kosel Plaza” and it is likely it will be explained in the future he was not referring to the new area allocated near the Southern Kosel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)