Misrad Hadatot Forced to Declare "Derech Mehadrin" Open to Women

Because of pressure from a group of reform women, the Ministry of Religious Affairs legal department was forced to publish a written letter announcing that the “Mehadrin Way” in Meiron will be open to women.

The uproar was caused by the same group of women who had already made considerable waves with their demand to bring a sefer Torah to the women’s section of the Kotel and their appeals against the rabbi of the Kotel and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. They are now trying to further disturb the life of the charedi public in Israel.

Following their approach as “Center for Justice for Women” protesting against gender separation in a public place, they are demanding that the “Mehadrin Way” – a longer, less-convenient path that was built years ago for worshippers wanting to pray at the burial place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai without seeing immodest sights be open to everyone.

Furthermore, they are demanding that there be public announcements to that effect. They claim to be supported by a judicial ruling by Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber decreeing that there should be no sector-division in public places.

Attorney Yisrael Pat, Judicial Adviser in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, replied to the group that the regular path, which is shorter and more convenient, serves the entire public and involves no discrimination against women.

Pat added, however, that “There never was and never will be anything stopping women from using the Mehadrin Way.’ It will be open to everyone.”

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!