Some Advice for Those Upset by the Failure of the Western Wall Compromise https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2017/06/some-advice-for-those-upset-by-the-failure-of-the-western-wall-compromise/

June 27, 2017 | Shmuel Rosner
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For the past eighteen months, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties have succeeded in holding up the implementation of a compromise approved by the Netanyahu government that would create a mixed-sex prayer area at the Western Wall. Yesterday, ḥaredi members of the cabinet, with minimal opposition, managed to “freeze” the plan by threatening to leave the governing coalition. Counting himself among those angered over the failure of this compromise, Shmuel Rosner gives some sober advice to those who feel similarly. To Rosner, the underlying fact is that ḥaredi politicians have significant electoral clout and believe this issue to be of the utmost importance; few Jews in the Diaspora, and even fewer in Israel, feel the same way:

Do not confuse the interests of small groups in Israel with those of large groups in the U.S. I have enormous respect for the dedication and determination of Women of the Wall. I still wonder if their cause—the cause of relatively few women—justifies the means—a rift separating millions of Jews from one another. . . .

The prime minister might be a coward for not testing how far the Ḥaredim will go in their insistence on killing the compromise. But it is not surprising that most of those thinking he should have taken the risk are also those who don’t want his government to survive. . . .

Do not try to convince Israelis—not even me—that the Western Wall issue is the most urgent issue on Israel’s agenda. It is not. . . . [Most non-ultra-Orthodox] Israelis dislike the [official] rabbinate and have little respect for ḥaredi leaders. They are less willing to fight for the Wall compromise not because they fear the rabbis or do not [believe] that the rabbis hurt Israel. They do not fight for the Kotel because it is not important enough for them to fight for. Also note that the rabbis are generally smart: they don’t take away from Israelis those things Israelis truly value—such as soccer on Saturdays.

Read more on Jewish Journal: http://jewishjournal.com/rosnersdomain/220942/24-short-sober-comments-sudden-death-kotel-compromise/