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On the eve of a pivotal Supreme Court hearing regarding petitions over tefillah arrangements at the Kosel, Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rav Dovid Yosef and Rav Kalman Ber, submitted an urgent notice along with a detailed halachic ruling clarifying their uncompromising position on preserving the sanctity of the site.
The High Court of Justice is set to convene Tuesday morning to deliberate on petitions challenging the current prayer framework at the Kosel. In advance of the hearing, the Chief Rabbis released a clear and forceful psak addressing the kedushah of the remnant of the Beis Hamikdash.
In their ruling, the chief rabbis state unequivocally that the plaza of the Kosel carries the full halachic status of a beis haknesses, deriving its sanctity from its proximity to the makom haMikdash. As such, they stress, the most stringent halachic standards apply there, including complete separation between men and women during prayer.
The psak also reviews the historical conduct of tefillah at the Kosel across generations, emphasizing that prayer at the site has always followed the mesorah of Klal Yisrael without deviation. Any attempt to alter established practice, they warn, would constitute a severe affront to the feelings of the believing public and to the enduring traditions of Am Yisrael.
The Chief Rabbinate further argues that explicitly halachic and religious matters—particularly the order of prayer at the holiest accessible site for the Jewish people—do not fall within the jurisdiction of civil courts. “It is not possible to decide through legal tools on matters whose roots lie in faith and halachah,” the statement asserts.
The rabbis also point to the existing alternative at the southern section of the Kosel, known as Ezras Yisrael, which allows groups wishing to pray according to different formats to do so. Given that alternative, they contend, there is no justification for transforming the main Kosel plaza into what they describe as a political or social battleground.
Additionally, the Chief Rabbinate expresses firm opposition to any modification of the regulations governing the holy sites. They warn that altering the longstanding arrangements would undermine the status quo and erode the Rabbinate’s exclusive authority in matters of religion.
In an official statement, the Chief Rabbinate declared: “The Kosel is a remnant of our Beis Hamikdash. It is not private property and not a venue for demonstrations. We expect the Court to respect the thousands of years of Jewish tradition and not permit harm to the sanctity of the site and the unity of those who daven there.”
{Matzav.com}
Sharp backlash erupted Monday after media personality Eyal Berkovich made inflammatory remarks about the chareidi community during a live radio broadcast, in the wake of the unrest in Bnei Brak. Speaking on 103FM, the Channel 13 presenter lashed out at those involved in the disturbances and used language that many listeners described as deeply offensive.
During the program, Berkovich addressed the riots that broke out after two IDF servicewomen entered the city, directing harsh criticism at those who attacked soldiers and burned Israeli flags.
“It’s time to finally put an end to these chareidim,” he said. When his co-host, Arel Segal, pressed him to clarify what he meant, Berkovich elaborated and called for a forceful response by authorities.
“There is police, there is an army, there is the Shin Bet, there is everything,” Berkovich said. “What is this thing? To burn Israeli flags, here in the State of Israel? To beat up female soldiers? To call us Nazis? These people need to be exiled from here, they are haters of Israel”.
The most controversial moment of the exchange came when Berkovich escalated his rhetoric and drew a comparison between the extremists in Bnei Brak and terrorist operatives. “They are worse than Arabs, terrorists. They are haters of Israel,” the broadcaster declared.
Segal quickly distanced himself from that comparison and attempted to temper the discussion, responding, “But terrorists shoot, kill and murder. They don’t kill and murder. I have a lot of anger at them.”
{Matzav.com}
A video recorded during Sunday’s unrest in Bnei Brak has sparked widespread reaction after footage showed police officers pulling the wig off a chareidi woman amid efforts to disperse rioters. The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing strong responses from across the political spectrum.
The incident, which occurred during clashes between police and demonstrators, shows officers approaching the woman in the protest area and forcibly removing her wig while carrying out operations against those involved in the disturbances.
The footage ignited a storm online, with many questioning whether such an action was necessary in the course of police activity. Senior political commentator Amit Segal shared the video on his social media platforms and asked, “Is it really necessary to remove wigs from chareidi women as part of police operations?”
On Monday, Arab MK Ahmad Tibi of the Hadash-Ta’al party addressed the matter during a speech in the Knesset plenum, strongly criticizing what was seen in the video. He drew a comparison to incidents involving Muslim women whose hijabs were removed.
“In Yerushalayim, on the light rail, women with hijabs were attacked several times,” Tibi said in the plenum, “and even once a woman’s hijab was removed. It’s terrible, something that must not happen.”
Tibi then turned directly to the events in Bnei Brak. “I will relate to what happened in Bnei Brak in one matter. I saw in the video a police officer striking a woman and removing her wig. This is something that must not happen. Just as I oppose harming a Muslim woman with a hijab, so too I oppose harming a Jewish woman with a wig.”
{Matzav.com}
The IDF developed and briefly deployed a classified capability aimed at securing the release of hostages during the war, with plans to transfer those rescued to a concealed location inside Israel, but the effort ultimately failed and the method was abandoned, according to a report aired on Channel 12 News.
During the course of the fighting, the military activated a sensitive and previously undisclosed tool that enabled forces to draw terrorists out from tunnels in Gaza. Defense officials hoped the tactic would create an opportunity to extract hostages safely and move them to a secure, undisclosed site within Israel.
The broader plan envisioned holding the rescued captives at that secret location for several days. During that window, Israel intended to launch an additional operation to free other hostages still being held.
However, the initial mission did not succeed in securing the hostages through this approach. Following the failed attempt, Israel discontinued use of the method and did not return to it for the remainder of the war, the report said.
{Matzav.com}