Meet the Kotel Protest Initiative: "I Realized We Women Need to Take Action"

The Western Wall. Who doesn’t find themselves these days, in times of mourning and destruction, thinking of it, the sacred wall, and longing from the depths of their heart for the day it will once again be one of the Temple walls? But there are those who do more than just think about it; they take practical steps to preserve the sanctity of the Kotel.

Such is Leah Aharoni. Leah was born in communist Russia, and she remembers her early childhood as being filled with tension and fear. "Although we lived in Russia, my grandfather, who lived with us, once managed to travel to Europe, despite the challenges involved. When he returned, he managed to smuggle two items – a tiny prayer book that I still have, and a napkin holder with a picture of the Western Wall. My parents would always keep the napkin holder on the kitchen table, a significant act of devotion for them, considering the potential repercussions had someone reported them. But it was important for our Jewish identity. I grew up with the understanding that the Western Wall is our home, the place we all aspire to."

Five years later, Leah’s family moved to the US, and at 17, she made aliyah to Israel. "Since I moved to Israel, my hobby has been visiting the Western Wall. For me, it’s indispensable. I go there to pray, to give thanks, to ask, in moments of pain and in times of joy. The Kotel is truly my home."

"We Will Not Give Up"

Five years ago, Leah visited the Kotel tunnels, just as the Reform Women of the Wall were making headlines. "I entered the tunnels, saw what was happening in the plaza, and was deeply pained. Then the idea struck me – to write an article about it in an American Jewish newspaper."

The more Leah thought about it, the more she realized it could be very effective. "In the article, I included the straightforward and logical idea: ‘The Women of the Wall are causing disruptions and making a circus in the plaza? Let’s not engage with them anymore but simply allow them to enter the tunnels and pray quietly.’"

When the article was published on the American-Jewish website, 'Times of Israel', Leah says she felt like she had opened Pandora's box. "The article received over 1,000 comments, ranging from: ‘I feel exactly as you do' to ‘Who do you think you are?' and ‘Be quiet.'"

"Honestly, it amazed me, because even those who are supposedly liberal and think the Women of the Wall have the right to act as they wish should understand that the significant harm they cause each time is unjustifiable, and there’s no excuse for such brutal and offensive behavior. During that time, a relative who is not religious contacted me. Yet, when in Israel, he visits the Kotel. He asked: ‘What is this nonsense about harming women who want to pray?' I didn’t understand what he meant until he pointed me to several articles published in US newspapers, and I was shocked. I saw how the Women of the Wall were managing media relations, tarnishing Israel’s image. They speak about being denied rights, their religious beliefs being harmed, even comparing themselves to victims."

"Personally," Leah says, "I was completely shocked. I understood that we have no chance to convey our messages as long as they convey such false messages. This understanding led me to a decision – to hold a massive prayer at the Western Wall. A prayer for women wanting to preserve the pure tradition, to be a powerful response to the ridiculous shows of the Women of the Wall. I received the blessing of the great rabbis, and within two weeks the first prayer for women and seminar girls was held. It was on Rosh Chodesh and no less than 10,000 women and girls attended."

How did you manage to gather so many participants?

"Thanks to the guidance of the great rabbis. They heard about the idea and issued a proclamation calling women to join. Therefore, things unfolded by themselves. But I must admit, I was also surprised by the enormous number of participants."

Thus, month after month, on every Rosh Chodesh, a massive prayer was held, attended by an average of about 15,000 women, from all walks of life. "It was thrilling to see how women and girls from all types – religious and non-religious, Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Hasidic – attended. Anyone who felt a connection to the Western Wall came, and it was so moving because it proved that the Kotel truly belongs to everyone."

"Women Have Enormous Power"

Leah notes that she hoped the many prayers would resolve the issue and cause the Women of the Wall to cease coming and causing disturbances, but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened.

"The government said it wanted to find a solution, and thus it reached the problematic Western Wall framework, which proposes establishing a ‘Reform Wall’ near the Kotel we all know. This idea is shocking because it, in essence, presents the ‘Reform Wall’ as an alternative to the sacred Kotel. As if there is a ‘religious Kotel’ and a ‘Reform Kotel,’ and anyone can choose where they want to pray. As if the Reform is equal to Judaism, G-d forbid. Clearly, that’s what the Women of the Wall want, but for us, it’s a great sorrow. That’s why the rabbis are so opposed to the Western Wall framework, and why we women will continue to come to pray and plead that this move simply doesn’t happen. That this terrible desecration doesn’t occur precisely in such a holy place for Judaism."

And practically, what are you doing to prevent this?

"We operate on two levels – primarily, we have returned to holding mass prayers attended by hundreds of women and girls. We make sure to pray beautifully, respectfully, and quietly, without conflict or demonstrations. Just to pray. With our prayer and presence, we declare that this is our Kotel, we want to keep it sacred, and we protest the disgrace happening in the plaza. Simultaneously, we try to act in various ways to prevent the Western Wall framework, which is currently on hold. We’ve submitted several petitions to the Supreme Court, and I very much hope they will assist in deciding that the framework be canceled. We also act in various ways in the legal realm, and we have groups of women abroad trying to push in different ways there."

Are you optimistic? Do you think there’s a chance things will be resolved?

"I very much hope things will be resolved, but it will undoubtedly take time. Currently, they are at a point of clarification, and this is crucial for us. Because the Western Wall framework cannot be advanced as a matter of course. I’m sure that we, as women, have strong power. It’s known that the woman sets the character of the home. A woman holds immense value in Judaism, and it’s ridiculous that there are women who think they need to put on tefillin or join a minyan to prove their worth."