Minister of Religious Affairs David Azoulai during a phone interview with Kol Chai Radio on Monday 15 Iyar called on Women of the Wall (WoW) and followers not to bring their provocative actions to Meron and the tziyun of the Rashbi on Lag B’Omer. As reported by YWN-ISRAEL, an effort has already begun to compel a mixed gender arrangement on the so-called ‘Mehadrin Derech’ which in past years was exclusively for men.

Azoulai told Mordechai Lavi that it is evident to all today that WoW has an agenda that involved machlokes and the destruction of Yiddishkheit and nothing more, as has been seen at the Kosel over recent years.

The minister stresses that for him, in matters such as these, it is quite simple. He will abide by nation’s High Court but as how to act, he relies on the head of the Shas Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and to date, he has always followed this line and continues to just that in the future.

He accuses the women of seeking out machlokes wherever possible, calling on them to avoid this in Meron where hundreds of thousands gather annually, in unity, without machlokes, and it is most unfortunate this small group seeks to change this.

Azoulai adds “I will not be the person who grants recognition to this group or the Reform Movement. At present the battle at Rashbi is not on the level at the Kosel but we understand from this that this is their agenda and we will see more of this. I can only hope this group will not act to ruin this marvelous annual gathering.

“For me, I will only act in line with halacha and receive my instructions from the head of the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and not from these provocateurs”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)