Tuesday, April 16, 2013

A Note from Natan Sharansky


Dear Friends,

As many of you have heard by now, in the last few days there have been some significant developments regarding the task that Prime Minister Netanyahu has asked me to undertake, specifically drafting recommendations for dealing with issues of access to the Western Wall. This is a good opportunity to thank the members of our Committee on the Unity of the Jewish People and especially its co-chairs Shoel Silver and Lori Klinghoffer, as well as Vera Golovensky and Yogev Karesenty for their invaluable assistance.

After spending a number of months researching and consulting with various stakeholders, Members of Knesset, representatives and leaders of various Jewish religious streams and organizations, we have established three guiding principles to create a suitable space for egalitarian prayer at the southern section of the Western Wall (Kotel).

These guiding principles are based on the notion of One Kotel for One People.  This requires a solution that respects the legitimate need for all Jews to be able to pray in accordance with their tradition. To this end, the proposed recommendations will focus on access, equality and unity.

The Western Wall was divided into two sections in 1968, not long after Israel liberated the Old City during the Six Day War. The northern section was designated for prayer and the southern section, adjacent to the Mugrabi Bridge, was set aside for archeological exploration. The excavations at the southern half of the Kotel have been completed. It is time that we transform the Kotel into a site dedicated to prayer as well a meaningful cultural and national symbol.

The southern end would then remain open for prayer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A plaza would be constructed so it is equal in size and height as the northern prayer area. This will allow all people to touch the Kotel. Finally, there should be a single entrance to the entire Kotel plaza. All comers will then be able to choose the area where they will pray.

We have an historic opportunity to make the Kotel a symbol of Jewish unity and diversity instead of a place of contention and strife. I will continue to update you as things develop.

B’Shalom Uvracha,

Natan Sharansky

P.S. I am attaching links to the various stories that have been written on the issue during the last 24 hours.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/world/middleeast/plan-to-resolve-western-wall-prayer-controversy.html?_r=0
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking-news/sharansky-recommend-equal-prayer-kotel
http://forward.com/articles/174503/sharansky-to-propose-egalitarian-section-at-the-ko/
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/04/09/3123886/sharansky-presents-plan-to-create-egalitarian-prayer-site-at-western-wall
http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Sharansky-proposes-egalitarian-section-at-Kotel-309285
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/04/10/3123886/sharansky-presents-plan-to-create-egalitarian-prayer-site-at-western-wall
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/04/10/3123886/sharansky-presents-plan-to-create-egalitarian-prayer-site-at-western-wall
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4366197,00.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-israel-judaism-wallbre939087-20130410,0,5028930.story
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/166970
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/rabbi-of-western-wall-backs-liberal-prayer-section-proposal-would-end-orthodox-monopoly/2013/04/10/516b2fb4-a1ca-11e2-bd52-614156372695_story.html
http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial-opinion/editorial/historic-kotel-proposal-dont-divide-increase
http://forward.com/articles/174588/kotel-egalitarian-prayer-plan-set-in-motion-by-dra/
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=309279
http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=309354
http://www.timesofisrael.com/sharanskys-new-western-wall-prayer-area-could-take-years-to-implement/
http://www.salon.com/2013/04/09/is_a_more_egalitarian_western_wall_coming_soon/
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/western-wall-rabbi-can-live-with-non-orthodox-kotel-site/2013/04/10/?src=ataglance
http://www.njjewishnews.com/article/16949/compromise-at-the-wall#.UWWE9cr7BNE
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/middle-east/462182-israel-to-liberalize-al-aqsa-wailing-wall.html
http://www.thejc.com/news/israel-news/105152/sharansky-suggest-egalitarian%E2%80%99-section-western-wall
http://forward.com/articles/174538/women-of-the-walls-anat-hoffman-supports-plan-for/
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/128919/an-egalitarian-section-at-the-western-wall
http://www.timesofisrael.com/women-of-the-wall-supports-egalitarian-prayer-plaza/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/sharansky-reportedly-to-propose-new-egalitarian-section-at-western-wall/
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/sharansky-to-suggest-womens-kotel-prayers-away-from-main-plaza/2013/04/09/?src=ataglance
http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/utilizing-smoke-and-mirrors-sharansky-relegates-women-to-back-of-the-bus/

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