A few weeks ago, I wrote on the Union's blog about the ongoing controversy involving women wearing tallitot and praying at the kotel in Jersusalem. Earlier this week, Anat Hoffman, excecutive director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) was interrogated by police for her efforts to spearhead this sacred endeavor.
In this video, she talks with JTA's Ben Harris about the experience:
As she suggests, we can keep quiet or we can raise hell.
Raise Hell, organize, mobilize. Do what's necessary to end second-class status of women everywhere in Israel. I'm sick and tired of reading about the double standard that exists at the Wall and elsewhere. Men who spit on and stone women should be arrested, not women who wish to pray and wear the same attire.
Pam Hudson said:
I agree. The stranglehold that the UltraOrthodox have on many aspects of life in Israel is appaling, because it is discriminatory against womeon and all others who do not subscribe to their particular way of living Jewishly.
Anat Hoffman is the Rosa Parks of this movement.
Larry Kaufman said:
The best way to raise hell on Anat's behalf is to fund the organizations that are most involved in supporting her. Join ARZA (www.arza.org) and/or contribute through ARZA to the Israel Religious Action Center.
In addition, make your views known to Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, to your Israel Consulate, and to your local Jewish Federation.
Expressing indignation to one another may be cathartic, but it is not effective. Express your indignation where it counts.
I may be reaching but, in the words of Leonard Cohen,
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch
He said 'you must not ask for so much'
And a woman leaning in her darkened door
Said 'hey why don't you ask for a little bit more?'
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Raise Hell, organize, mobilize. Do what's necessary to end second-class status of women everywhere in Israel. I'm sick and tired of reading about the double standard that exists at the Wall and elsewhere. Men who spit on and stone women should be arrested, not women who wish to pray and wear the same attire.