Anat Hoffman
Anat HoffmanIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The chairperson of Women of the Wall, Anat Hoffman, is admantly opposed to an initiative by Religions Minister Naftali Bennett, to open a separate area next to the Kotel for non-Orthodox prayer, and to limit her group's prayers to that area. She was quick to denounce the offer almost as soon as Bennett announced it.

The separate prayer area has been set up south of the Rambam (Mughrabim) Gate. The Kotel plaza is located just north of the gate.

Speaking on IDF Radio, Hoffman said: “We must not let thugs decide our policy. I am willing to talk with Minister Bennett right this minute and give him some excellent suggestions that will not hurt anyone's feelings.”

"I respect other people's emotions very much, but I will not be relegated to an alternative offer that is located lower, and there is importance to this,” she said.

Women of the Wall are a small group of women who insist on praying in a style that mimics Orthodox men's prayer. They wear a prayer shawl, don tefillin and read from the Torah – in direct contravention of traditional Orthodox custom, in which only men do these things.

Bennett – who is also the Economics Minister and Minister Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs – is hoping to end the conflict between Women of the Wall and the Orthodox stream with the special prayer area that can hold up to 450 people. The new prayer space would be used by the Women of the Wall, while the present women’s prayer section at the Kotel would be used exclusively for prayer that does not violate traditional Orthodox norms.

“On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, we decided to put an end to the conflict at the remnant of our Temple,” Bennett said. “I will not let infighting among the Jewish people continue before Rosh Hashanah.”

“Our energy must be directed toward prayer, forgiveness and unity,” he continued, “as well as maintaining the status quo at the Western Wall.”

The Women of the Wall formerly had a separate prayer space, but moved to pray at the Western Wall after finding the separate space unsatisfactory.

The “new” prayer area is outside the Kotel plaza but still adjacent to the wall. It has been approved as a prayer area alone, and cannot be used for wedding or circumcision ceremonies.