Jerusalem police arrested and later released Wednesday morning a woman who violated decorum rules at the Western Wall (Kotel) by wearing a prayer shawl, known in Hebrew as a tallit, and demanding that a Toral scroll be brought for prayers. The disturbance by a member of the group known as the “Kotel Women” occurred during morning prayers for the new Hebrew month Kislev.

Police were called to the scene after the women asked for a Torah for the reading of the portion connected with Biblical sacrifices on the new month. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch said the action was intended as a provocation in violation of Jewish tradition. He emphasized that prayer has no value when it intentionally causes a disturbance.