Jewish teens set Women of the Wall prayer books on fire - report

By ZVIKA KLEIN

Published: MARCH 26, 2023 19:04

Updated: MARCH 27, 2023 12:56

Members of the Women of the Wall, Conservative and Reform Movement hold Rosh Hodesh prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, March 4, 2022. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) — Members of the Women of the Wall, Conservative and Reform Movement hold Rosh Hodesh prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, March 4, 2022.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The prayer books were most probably left at the plaza since earlier that day WoW held their monthly prayer service for Rosh Chodesh.

Jerusalem District Police arrested two Jewish teenagers on the suspicion of setting fire to the prayer books of the Women of the Wall (WoW) movement last Thursday, Walla! reported on Sunday.

The prayer books were most probably left at the plaza since earlier that day WoW held their monthly prayer service for Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the month according to the Hebrew calendar.

The two were brought in for questioning, at the end of which they were released under restrictive conditions, as per the report

Repeating incidents of attacks on Women of the Wall

WoW responded that "seven years ago, extremists tore a Women of the Wall prayer book, four years ago more of our prayer books were burned and a year and a half ago 39 of our prayer books were stolen and torn in the Western Wall plaza as we were spat upon, pushed, and cursed at."

WoW added that "three days ago, after a festive Rosh Chodesh prayer, celebrating the month of freedom and liberty, one of our prayer books was burned again.

Members of ''Women of the Wall'' pray with a Torah scroll during a monthly prayer near the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City July 24, 2017 (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

"We are shocked and outraged by the inaction of Western Wall security, which does not even try to stop the violence against us. We call on decision-makers to wake up before it is too late. We strongly encourage the police to investigate and prosecute the inciters and the perpetrators of these ongoing hate crimes," WoW said.

The Rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites and the management of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation have also reacted to the burning of the prayer books and said that they "condemn any sort of violence at the Western Wall. This event is currently being dealt with by the Israel Police. We call upon everyone to remove disputes from the Western Wall and preserve it as a sacred and unifying site."