I just hate these news items about the fight at the Kotel between Rabbi Rabinovitch (and the Haredi community) and the Women of the Wall.
I can accept the debate. Both sides of it. I think the position of tradition and what is halachically acceptable is legitimate, and I think the opposing position of it not being a halachic issue, of it being more inclusive, of women's roles changing, is also legitimate.
On some issues I might agree more with one side of the recurring debate than the other , while on other issues I will find myself agreeing more with the other side.
But I hate these fights. I hate seeing news items where Israeli police, under instructions from the PMO or Religious Affairs Ministry or whoever, prevented Jews (women in this case) from taking a Torah to the Kotel, or from using a Kotel Torah scroll. Or from reading from a Torah. Or from carrying a chanukah menora into the Kotel area. Or from lighting the menora. I hate seeing news items that the women smuggled a Torah in. Or were arrested for trying to smuggle a Torah in. Or the story that they were banned form bringing menorahs into the Kotel area. Or that despite the ban, they managed to smuggle a menorah into the Kotel area.
I just hate it. Whoever is right, and whoever is wrong.
These news stories make me think of the days when the British did not allow the Jews to blow shofar at the Kotel, so they smuggled a shofar in, and sometimes a shofar blower got arrested because of it. It makes me think of the times that Jews were not allowed to pray at the Kotel. Or when they were not allowed to sit. Or to have a mechitza. Or anywhere else in theworld, at any time in history, where the anti-semitic rulers did not allow the Jews to practice their faith and rituals.
Even if the women are wrong, and even if they should not be lighting the menora or reading the Torah or whatever else they try (and I do not know that to be true in every situation, but supposing it is), isn't there a better response? Do we really need to generate stories and news items of religious suppression, of control reminiscent of the times of the greatest anti-semitism in our history? Can't our leaders and the authorities tasked with dealing with these situations find more creative solutions than imitating the Greeks, the British, the Soviets and the Romans (and everyone else throughout history)?
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