Not that I want to oversimplify things, but religion can be really, really silly sometimes. Like seriously, we’re all so hung up on our dumb rules and traditions that we have to literally fight over who gets to say their prayers at which section of wall?
Thousands of young ultra-Orthodox Jews have clashed with a liberal Jewish women’s group at one of Judaism’s holiest sites, the Western Wall, in Jerusalem.
Dozens of members of the Women of the Wall group, who are seeking equal prayer rights, had to be escorted away by police.A number of people were reportedly injured in the incident.
The Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City – a relic of the Biblical Temple compound – currently has separate sections where men and women are allowed to pray.The Jerusalem Post says 150 members of the group were met by more than 10,000 ultra-Orthodox women early on Friday morning, with insults exchanged between the two sides.
“During the prayers, friction arose between the worshippers, including the Women of the Wall, including curses and various comments,” police said in a statement.
In a tweet, the Women of the Wall said two of its members had to get medical treatment after the incident. The group was later escorted to another area of the wall that allows non-traditional prayers to take place.
Police also said that one man, apparently part of a group of dudes looking to crash through barricades to get at the women, was arrested for trying to assault an officer.
Have I mentioned how silly this is?
According to Orthodox Jewish tradition, women should not perform these religious rituals. Under pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, the Israeli authorities in 2017 scrapped plans to create a mixed-gender prayer area at the wall.
If I haven’t, it’s silly.
