The Zionist Federation of Australia has expressed deep concern about proposed legislation before the Knesset that would place prayer arrangements at the Western Wall under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate, and could undermine the status of the egalitarian prayer space at the Kotel.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said the issue goes to the heart of Israel’s relationship with world Jewry.
“The Kotel is not the property of one stream, one party, or one religious authority. It is one of the great symbols of Jewish memory, longing and return. It must remain a place where every Jew can feel they belong.”
Mr Leibler said the 2016 Kotel compromise remains the most responsible framework for balancing tradition, dignity and Jewish unity.
“The 2016 Kotel compromise preserved the traditional character of the main prayer plaza while providing dignified, recognised and accessible egalitarian prayer space nearby. It was a serious effort to hold the Jewish people together, not to divide us.”
The ZFA has long supported the principle that all Jews should be able to connect to the Kotel with dignity and respect. This includes ensuring that the egalitarian section, Ezrat Yisrael, is safe, accessible and treated as a legitimate part of this sacred national site.
Mr Leibler said that at a time of significant external pressure on Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, it is particularly important to avoid deepening internal divisions.
“Jewish unity cannot mean asking some Jews to stand at the margins of a place that belongs to all of us. It means making space, with dignity and respect, for the diversity of Jewish life.”
Mr Leibler said Diaspora Jews do not seek to dictate Israel’s religious life, but they do have a legitimate stake in decisions that affect whether millions of Jews feel recognised by the Jewish state.
“A Jewish state that asks world Jewry to stand with it in moments of crisis must also ensure that world Jewry is not made to feel like a guest in its own sacred story.”
The ZFA urges Israeli decision-makers to act in the spirit of the compromise already reached, to protect the dignity of all who come to pray, and to ensure that the Western Wall remains a unifying symbol for the whole Jewish people.