Tag Archive for Western Wall

| April 5, 2016
No comments

Israel’s Archeological council warns Western Wall mixed-prayer area will cause damage  

 

The ire of Israel’s Archeological Council was voiced in a letter warning of great damage to Western Wall heritage site, should the decision to expand the prayer area for Conservative, Reform & mixed-gender prayer be allowed at the planned designated area.

By Itay Blumenthal

 

Israel’s Archeological Council announced, in a letter that it sent on Monday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that it greatly opposes what it called “the major damage to the archeological park at the foot of the Western Wall”, the place where the government decided last January to establish an expanded prayer area for Conservative, Reform and mixed-gender worship. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 1, 2016
No comments

Historic victory for non-Orthodox praying Jews at Western Wall

 

Natan Sharansky, the Jewish Agency chairman, hailed the cabinet’s decision to approve a non-Orthodox prayer section at the Kotel (Western Wall) as an “unprecedented” decision for Israel and world Jewry.

By JEREMY SHARON,  STEVE LINDE

 

The Women of the Wall organization, the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel and North America as well as political leaders in Israel and the Diaspora hailed the agreement approved on Sunday to formally designate a prayer area for non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall.

IDF’s Nachal brigade ‘swearing-in’ ceremony at the Kotel – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The Orthodox political establishment, in particular the haredi leadership, was, however, greatly angered by the recognition of the rights of non-Orthodox Jews inherent in the change, although they realized they were essentially powerless to avert it. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| October 25, 2015
No comments

Morgan Freeman Visits Judaism’s Western Wall

 

Morgan Freeman did some soul searching at the Kotel while in Israel filming for National Geographic’s upcoming series “The Story of God,” which investigates mankind’s quest to understand the divine.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

 

Hollywood heavyweight Morgan Freeman took time out to visit the Western Wall on Sunday, while visiting the Holy Land to shoot scenes for the upcoming National Geographic series The Story of God, which looks at mankind’s quest to understand the divine.

Morgan Freeman and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz at the Western Wall. – Photo: RAVHAKOTEL

While at the Western Wall, Freeman met with the rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, and visited several holy sites. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| October 21, 2015
No comments

UNESCO Chief Slams Palestinian Attempt to Hijack Jewish Holy Site as Muslim

 

UNESCO Director-General issues formal statement ‘deploring’ Palestinian initiative proposed by Arab states, to claim Judaism’s Kotel as part of Al-Aqsa compound saying it “undermines UNESCO’s mandate and efforts.”

By Ari Soffer

 

 

In what could be a crucial development, the head of UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has issued a statement roundly condemning the Palestinian Authority bid to claim the Kotel (Western Wall) as a Muslim site.

Jews worship at the Kotel (Western Wall) – Reuters

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova urged Organization members to reject the proposal, which she said threatened to “incite tensions.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| October 17, 2015
No comments

Palestinians Claim Ownership of Judaism’s ‘Western Wall’ at UNESCO

 

The proposal, likely to pass due to Muslim majority in the UNESCO Executive Council, will have Judaism’s Kotel (a.k.a. Western Wall or Wailing Wall in English) renamed Buraq Plaza, and incorporated as part of Islam’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

By Ari Yashar

 

In an attempt to gain international legitimacy for its rewriting of history, the Palestinian Authority (PA) will submit a resolution to UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) next week claiming the Kotel (Western Wall) as its own.

The proposal calls to have the Kotel in Jerusalem – which is an outer wall of the Temple Mount that is the holiest site in Judaism – recognized as part of Al-Aqsa Mosque located on the Mount, reports Yedioth Aharonoth on Friday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| May 1, 2015
No comments

Left-wing group turns to High Court to relieve Elad control of Temple Mount tunnel

Archeological activist from Emek Shaveh dismiss the group as a “radical left-wing organization,” funded by European gov’ts, believes they should have control of the tunnel, which extends from the Silwan parking lot opposite the Dung Gate to the Western Wall.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD

 

During a Thursday morning press tour of a contested tunnel being excavated under the Temple Mount, Yonathan Mizrachi stopped to explain why his archeological NGO submitted a petition to the High Court requesting that a right-wing NGO cease managerial oversight of the project.

EMEK SHAVEH archeologist Yonathan Mizrachi leads members of the press on a tour of the contested Temple Mount tunnel.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , , ,
| October 24, 2014
Comments Off on Disregarding regulations & protocol, Women of the Wall sneak miniature Torah into the Kotel

Disregarding regulations & protocol, Women of the Wall sneak miniature Torah into the Kotel

The religious feminist organization says this is 1st time in 25 years women have read from the Torah at the holy Jewish site.

Western Wall Rabbi condemns the group’s ‘deception.’

 

Defying regulations by Western Wall rabbinic authorities, members of Women of the Wall smuggled a tiny Torah scroll into the women’s section of the Kotel Friday morning, in what the feminist prayer group said was the first reading from the Torah by women at the holy site in 25 years.

Bat mitzvah girl Sasha Lutt reads from the Torah scroll smuggled into the Kotel.

Bat mitzvah girl Sasha Lutt reads from the tiny Torah scroll smuggled into the Western Wall, Fri.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News, Jewish News | Tags: , , , ,
| September 4, 2014
No comments

PMO orders removal of unauthorized, temporary bridge to Temple Mount’s Mughrabi Gate

 

On August 6, PM Binyamin Netanyahu made it clear at a press conference that Israel had no intention of altering the status quo on the Temple Mount.

The Prime Minister’s Office ordered the dismantling of a foot bridge under construction from the Western Wall Plaza to the Temple Mount to supplement the  Mughrabi Bridge, government officials confirmed Wednesday.

Mughrabi Gate

Mughrabi Gate. – Photo:MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST

The officials said that the move came at the request of the Jordanian government. According to the officials, the PMO has ultimate jurisdiction – because of the sensitivity of the area – for the site. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Jewish News | Tags: , , , ,
| July 31, 2014
No comments

Police shoot suspicious woman who failed to heed warnings to stop at Western Wall

A 35yr-old Jewish woman was taken to hospital with light injuries for failing to heed warning shot from Israel police.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

A 35-year-old woman draped in blankets, who repeatedly refused to identify herself to Western Wall security guards as she continued walking toward a checkpoint, was shot in the leg on Wednesday night when she refused to stop after a warning shot was fired.

Security cameras at the Western Wall (Kotel)

At approximately 8:30 p.m., security guards became suspicious of the unidentified Jewish woman as she approached them, and asked her to stop and identify herself, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| June 2, 2014
No comments

Grand Hall from 14th Century Discovered Beneath the Kotel Tunnels

 

After 10 years of difficult excavations, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation opens an educational center deep beneath the Muslim Quarter dedicated to Jewish history.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
 

 

Funded entirely by Jewish Ukrainian billionaire Zvi Hirsch (Gennady) Bogolyubov, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation unveiled on Sunday a fully excavated grand hall from the 14th century in the Western Wall Tunnels that took 10 years to restore.

UKRANIAN OLIGARCH Zvi Hirsch (Gennady) Bogolyubov poses in the excavated educational center he spent millions to finane in the Western Wall Tunnels Sunday. – Photo: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST

The hall, which has been converted into an educational center, took millions of dollars and close oversight by the Israel Antiquities Authority to complete. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 23, 2014
No comments

Metal Chisel Thought To Build The 2nd Temple Unearthed Under Western Wall

Archaeologist who discovered the ancient metal chisel says ‘For 1st time in 2000 years we have a tool of the builders of the Kotel (Western Wall).’

By Iddo Ben-Porat, Ari Yashar

 

An astonishing archaeological discovery has been made at the feet of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The find is an ancient chisel, which apparently was used by the builders of the Western Wall of the Second Temple.

Chisel found on Temple Mount – Photo: Clara Amit, Courtesy of Antiquities Authority

Archaeologist Eli Shukrun, who managed the excavations and found the rare tool, told Arutz Sheva that the chisel is “a moving discovery.” Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Jewish News | Tags: , , ,
| April 1, 2014
No comments

Jerusalem Court to hear petition to block private control of Western Wall section

 

The prosecution contends that transferring control of the Holy site to a subcontractor will limit the gov’t’s freedom to act in the area.

By

 

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court is to hold a hearing on Tuesday on the attorney general’s request to cancel an agreement for the settler organization Elad-the City of David Foundation to manage the entire southern section of the Western Wall.

Israel Police Special Patrol Unit vehicles stationed near the Western Wall compound.

Israel Police Special Patrol Unit vehicles stationed near the Western Wall compound. February 25, 2014. – Photo: Olivier Fitoussi

The agreement between the Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem (JQDC), which owns the area, and the right-wing, religious group was meant to go into effect on Tuesday.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 20, 2014
No comments

‘Jews Don’t Need Permission to Pray at the Kotel (Western Wall)’

 

Israel’s deputy FM Danny Danon, furious after Mahmoud Abbas deigns to grant Jews his permission to pray at Judaism’s holiest site.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Danon, insisted earlier this week that Jews require permission from no one to pray at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, the retaining wall of the Temple Mount that for centuries has been Judaism’s holiest site.

Praying freely at the Kotel (Western Wall, Wailing Wall) – IsraelandStuff/PP

At a meeting with Israeli students in Ramallah on Sunday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas insisted the Palestinians must win control of the eastern half of Jerusalem in order to make peace, but promised to still allow Jews to enter the Old City and pray at the Western Wall. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 10, 2014
No comments

Palestinian Minister: Palestine Will Have Sovereignty Over Old City, Including Kotel

Palestinian Authority Minister of Holy Places is demanding sovereignty over the entire Old City of Jerusalem, including City of David & the Kotel.

By David Lev

 

 

A top Palestinian Authority official said that the PA was demanding sovereignty over all areas of Jerusalem Israel liberated in the Six Day War, including the Kotel, the Western Wall. Speaking to Channel Ten, Mahmoud al-Habbash, Minister of Holy Places in the PA, said that “there will be no peace until the end of the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. Every piece of land that Israel conquered then belongs to the Palestinians.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| January 2, 2014
No comments

Women of the Wall Allowed, but Their Torah Scroll Banned from Kotel

Controversial women’s group, Women of the Wall were allowed into the Kotel to pray, but without their Torah.

By Maayana Miskin

 

The controversial women’s prayer group Women of the Wall held its monthly Rosh Hodesh prayers at the Kotel (Western Wall) on Thursday in honor of the first day of the new Hebrew month.

Activists with Torah scroll – Photo: Miriam Alster

The group brought roughly 200 worshipers – an unusually large number given the group’s usual attendance of several dozen at best. While the group was allowed in to pray, the Torah scroll they had planned to use in their service was not allowed in. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »