Orthodox demonstrators form a human wall to stop egalitarian protesters from reaching the Western Wall (Photo: Flash90)

F or David and Bat-Sheva Weisenstern it was the end of an agonizing morning at the Kosel. The couple who manage the coffee stand that for some 18 years has been giving away free coffee tea and other refreshments to worshippers who arrive for the haneitz minyan were overwrought at the return of the “Women of the Wall” (WOW) on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. Their mixed prayer service a clear provocation to Orthodox worshipers led to clashes at the Kosel Plaza.

“I just can’t stand the spectacle any longer” David said apologizing for closing his stand early. “It’s a desecration of Hashem’s Name and a sacrilege at such a holy place. I blame the Supreme Court for opening such a precedent but I also blame the security guards who normally will stop such groups from even bringing in a Megillas Esther to the site. Today they let them bring in ten sifrei Torah.”

The Kosel security forces were overwhelmed by as many as 200 members of Reform and Conservative groups protesting what they call government inaction on its decision almost ten months ago to designate a section of the Kosel’s southern wall in the area known as Robinson’s Arch for egalitarian prayer. The Netanyahu government has been stalling for time under threats from chareidi coalition members to bolt the government unless the decision is modified.

But the “Women of the Wall” have not kept their end of the bargain either. The Rosh Chodesh clashes broke out after WOW headed straight for the women’s section instead of Robinson’s Arch. They were greeted by protestors — some chareidim and some from the national-religious stream — including Motti Dan head of the Ateret Cohanim group who like Weisenstern said Kosel security was lax.

“These people didn’t land from the sky” Dan said. “You could see them coming with their sifrei Torah and they should have been stopped at the entrance.”

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation is responsible for security at the site. Rabbanim at the Kosel manage the distribution of the sifrei Torah and normally do not allow anyone to bring in their own. “Out of trepidation that nothing adverse would happen to the sifrei Torah I instructed our guards to avoid physical confrontations with the demonstrators who callously violated the agreement made with the state attorney general and every religious custom since time immemorial” said Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz rav of the Kosel.