Israel give Islam a run for its' money

Israeli police have detained 10 women at one of Judaism's holiest sites for wearing prayer shawls, which Orthodox tradition sees as solely for men, authorities confirm.

Among those detained on Monday at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City was Susan Silverman, a reform rabbi who is a sister of the famous US comedian Sarah Silverman, and her teenage daughter, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld has said.

Two other US citizens and Israeli members of "Women of the Wall", a group that campaigns for gender equality in religious practice, were also detained.

The group routinely convenes for monthly prayer sessions at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as a perimeter wall of the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem.

Some of its members have been detained by police in the past for wearing prayer shawls at the site and released without charge.

The Western Wall is administered under strict Orthodox ritual law, which bars women from wearing the religious garb or publicly reading from the holy scriptures.

'High Court' ruling

Rosenfeld said the women had acted "against regulations set by the High Court", citing a decision of a decade ago upholding Orthodox rules at the site to avoid tension between worshippers.

The incident highlighted the divisions between the more liberal branches of Judaism and politically powerful Orthodox groups that traditionally limit the role of women in prayer.

Susan Silverman, who immigrated to Israel from Boston, said police escorted the group to a station after they refused to remove prayer shawls.

She said in a telephone interview from the police station where the group was held that they had been among more
than 100 women attending the hour-long prayer session.

"They [police] said 'take off your prayer shawls', and we said 'no'," Silverman said. Once the prayers were over they were escorted away, Silverman said.

Silverman also said the Orthodox tradition barring women from wearing prayer shawls amounted to "spitting on Sinai", naming the site where the Bible says God handed the ancient Israelite leader Moses the 10 Commandments.

"All Jews are in a covenant with God," regardless of their gender, she said.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

And dress codes in a place of worship compares with dress codes in public???

Quote: Originally Posted by PoliticalNick

It is just as discriminatory against women as a Burka. No two ways about it. There are a lot of ways that Orthodox Judaism is still in the stone-age just like radical Islam.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

I can see why people would think you have comprehension issues.....
And I get fined if I wear my hat at the Royal Canadian Legion.... OMG!!!!!!

But I don't get stonned to death!

Quote: Originally Posted by PoliticalNick

Ten women arrested at Jerusalem's Western Wall over religious garb that Orthodox tradition sees as solely for men.

Israel detains women over prayer shawls - Middle East - Al Jazeera English





It would appear that Orthodox Judaism has some things in common with radical Islam.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

I can see why people would think you have comprehension issues.....
And I get fined if I wear my hat at the Royal Canadian Legion.... OMG!!!!!!

But I don't get stonned to death!

Quote: Originally Posted by Sal

Are there any religions where women are totally equal in every respect?

Quote: Originally Posted by earth_as_one

Most First Nations are matriarchal. Your clan (last name) comes from your mother. Historically community property belonged to the clan (controlled by women) and guys would loose rights to the long house if they were deadbeats. The council of women elders elect the chiefs, but if they didn't do what the women wanted, they'd hold another election. ( As it was explained to me by the Mohawks in Akwasasne). Their system made a lot of sense.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

And dress codes in a place of worship compares with dress codes in public???

Quote: Originally Posted by PoliticalNick

But it is a public place. It a wall along a street in public. It is not in a building, not in a church. This is a case of discrimination against women by a fundamentalist religious sect. Nothing more, nothing less. You can make excuses all you want because you don't like Judaism being likened to Islam but there is no denying the facts.

Quote: Originally Posted by earth_as_one

Women are not subservient to men even when it comes to their religious leaders.

Quote: Originally Posted by L Gilbert

Sometimes that is "in spite of their religious leaders". I agree.

Anyway, nifty thing about native societies is that religious issues were as they should be, a personal thing, not a societal thing. It was simply an aspect of society like hunting/fishing/gathering, teaching, raising kids, etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

Their spirituality was all inclusive of everything they did.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

Their spirituality was all inclusive of everything they did.

They did not compartmentalize various aspects of their lives the way western society does.

Quote: Originally Posted by L Gilbert

Yes, but it was still a personal issue not a governing issue. True but at least in the Anishinaabe culture, different clans had different societal duties.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cliffy

Correct and most, if not all, had clans. The clan mothers held most of the decision making power.

Quote: Originally Posted by PoliticalNick

But it is a public place. It a wall along a street in public. It is not in a building, not in a church. This is a case of discrimination against women by a fundamentalist religious sect. Nothing more, nothing less. You can make excuses all you want because you don't like Judaism being likened to Islam but there is no denying the facts.

Quote: Originally Posted by petros

He's blinded by imposed guilt just like many others. He bitches an whines about people who are PC (politically correct) yet, wears his PC guilt on his sleeve for all to see.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

You two compare muslim extremists who consistently stone women who will not wear the burqa or hang gays or blow up school buses with consistency to someone who gets a reprimand for wearing the wrong clothing in what they consider a holy place.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

Bull...........


More Bull......
You two compare muslim extremists who consistently stone women who will not wear the burqa or hang gays or blow up school buses with consistency to someone who gets a reprimand for wearing the wrong clothing in what they consider a holy place..You two either have your head so far up your a ss that you can't see anything or you're trolling

Quote: Originally Posted by DaSleeper

Bull...........


More Bull......
You two compare muslim extremists who consistently stone women who will not wear the burqa or hang gays or blow up school buses with consistency to someone who gets a reprimand for wearing the wrong clothing in what they consider a holy place..You two either have your head so far up your a ss that you can't see anything or you're trolling

Quote: Originally Posted by lone wolf

Where does it say anything about being arrested and thrown in jail? I see "detained and released". Sounds more like a measure to appease the whiny Othie extremists.

Quote: Originally Posted by PoliticalNick

But it is a public place. It a wall along a street in public. It is not in a building, not in a church. This is a case of discrimination against women by a fundamentalist religious sect. Nothing more, nothing less. You can make excuses all you want because you don't like Judaism being likened to Islam but there is no denying the facts.

The group routinely convenes for monthly prayer sessions at the Western Wall, revered by Jews as a perimeter wall of the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem

Quote: Originally Posted by PoliticalNick

So discrimination is ok as long as nobody is getting stoned to death? Or are you saying some discrimination is good? Please clarify your stance because right now you're just being pissy because the beloved Jews are exposing themselves as backward and discriminatory as much as Muslims and you don't like that. Being arrested and thrown in jail, and god knows what other punishments at home, for wearing a prayer shawl in a public place may not be quite the same as being beheaded but it isn't much different either.

Some of its members have been detained by police in the past for wearing prayer shawls at the site and released without charge.
The Western Wall is administered under strict Orthodox ritual law, which bars women from wearing the religious garb or publicly reading from the holy scriptures.