Gedolim Back ‘Women for The Wall’ Tehillim Gathering

Gedolei Yisrael on both sides of the ocean have expressed support for a call for all women who value Jewish tradition to come to the Kosel at 6:30 a.m. on Rosh Chodesh, to daven and say Tehillim for Klal Yisrael and the great dangers to Torah and Judaism posed by a controversial group of women who call themselves Women of the Wall.

A new group of women, Women for the Wall, is seeking to preempt plans by Women of the Wall to don talleisos at the Kosel on Friday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan.

Though launched only a few weeks ago, the Women for the Wall has already received the  endorsements of Gedolim and Rabbanim from across the spectrum of the Torah world.
Among the Gedolim in Eretz Yisrael who expressed support for the idea was Hagaon Harav Aron Leib Steinman, shlita, and Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita.

Hagaon Harav Aharon Feldman, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisrael in Baltimore has also endorsed the concept.

“In so doing, these bnos Yisrael will arrive before the Women of the Wall, and show the government and world media that the vast majority of women who wish to pray at the Kosel oppose any changes,” a representative of the group told Hamodia.

“We only want to pray with sincerity and quiet,” said Ronit Peskin, director of Women for the Wall. “Women should pray and demonstrate by example, not respond to their shouting and provocative behavior.” She emphasized that each woman must come intending to create a kiddush Hashem in every aspect of her behavior and tefillah.

United Torah Judaism asked directors of seminaries and the general public to participate in tefillos at the Kosel at 6:30 Friday morning.

Askanim  affiliated with the effort stressed that Jews residing in the Diaspora can help out as well by writing to Mr. Natan Sharansky, the Chairman of The Jewish Agency, and urge him to abandon his plan to create a third section at the Kosel that would be used for egalitarian prayer services. The address of The Jewish Agency is 48 King George Street, P.O.B 92, Jerusalem, Israel. The zip code is 91000.

Sharansky’s fax number is 011.972-2.6252352, His email address is  natansh@jafi.org.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the May 9th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.