Women of the Wall (archive)
Women of the Wall (archive)Photo: Miriam Alster/Flash90

The Reform storm is still raging: Although the government recently expanded the “non-Orthodox” prayer section at the Kotel, members of the Original Women of the Wall entered the women’s plaza Monday morning.

The group smuggled in with them a Torah scroll, and according to eye witnesses, they generated provocation.

The witnesses said that the women were wrapped in Tallitot and Tefillin (fringed garments and small leather boxes containing scriptural texts traditionally worn by Jewish men) and entered the traditional section with a Torah scroll.

Despite calls of protest from traditional prayer goers and against the official agreement obtained at the Kotel, the women began their prayer ceremony.

The event Monday morning demonstrated that the arrangement between the Government and Reform Movement is not sufficient to some factions within the Women of the Wall movements, who insist on carrying out their practices specifically in the traditional plaza.

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council is due to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, after voicing harsh criticism against the government’s decision. The meeting will also be attended by the leaders of the Jewish Home, Shas, and United Torah Judaism factions.

The Prime Minister is expected to raise the arguments in favor of the decision made by the government three weeks ago, and relate to the relationship between Israel and the reform community abroad.

The Original Women of the Wall is a distinct group that broke off from Women of the Wall.