Hiddush head, Reformed Rabbi Uri Regev, called for “using stern measures and prosecuting the man who burned a prayer book at the Kotel.” According to Regev, “It’s disturbing to see that the police did not attempt to arrest the man while he was in the act of burning the prayer book, but rather waited patiently to escort him as he exited the plaza. It would be most appropriate for the Rabbi of the Kotel, Shmuel Rabinovitch, to be the one who submits a complaint to the police.

Otherwise, the world may conclude that burning prayer books at the Western Wall is permissible if they happen to not be to the liking of the ultra-Orthodox worshippers, such as the Women of the Wall’s prayer book in this particular case. One need not be a great expert in Diaspora-Israel relations in order to understand the damage caused by such act of religious extremism being tolerated without swiftly and sternly sanctioning such desecration. One need not be a prophet in order to know that a Kotel where burning prayer books is not met with repercussions, may once again see renewed violence against people, Modern Orthodox women and non-Orthodox worshippers. The police and Rabbi of the Western Wall will be entirely responsible for this.”

The Hiddush media release adds, “This event is reminiscent of 1970 when ultra-Orthodox MK Menachem Porush of the Agudat Israel party spat on a Reform prayer book and threw it to the floor of the Knesset. Given his parliamentary immunity, he was merely sanctioned with disciplinary measures, and the event was met with major waves of criticism and anger. Rabbi Porush subsequently apologized, asking that his apology close the incident. Indeed, one might have hoped that following the public condemnation of Porush’s intolerance towards non-Orthodox Judaism, such public upswells of religious bigotry would have ceased. However, today we awaken to find that the reality has become much worse. Religious intolerance is increasingly prevalent in Israeli society, all too often being expressed by acts of violence. Tellingly, Israel’s police today are content to simply stand by and watch as an ultra-Orthodox fanatic burns a prayer book at our holiest Jewish site. Zero tolerance to acts of religious bigotry and desecration is needed, if Israel is to remain a democracy, and if Judaism’s self-image of ‘Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace’ is to prevail”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

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