Events With mechitzah Will Not Be Canceled

Dina Zilber saga makes it to the Knesset: Chairman of the finance committee MK Moshe Gafne sent an urgent query today (Wednesday) to minister of Justice Mk Ayelet Shaked, regarding the religious meddling of assistant Attorney general Dina Zilber. As “Bechadrei chareidim” previously reported, Zilber has increasingly been getting involved in public religious and Chareidi events, ordering their cancelation if a Mechitsa is in place. His letter comes after an earlier letter that he sent to Dina Zilber herself, trying to sort out the matter.



Speaking at the Knesset today, Mk Gafne Referred to an earlier incident in which students at Bar Illan University were not permitted to hold an event with a mechitsa. “When Bar Illan university requested to hold a segregated Yom Hazikaron event, Zilber forbade them, saying that yom Hazikaron is a day of unity not division.” Said Gafne, “I wrote the University telling them I identify with you, religious people should not be holding mixed events. She doesn’t know anything about Tsnius, how can she tell us what to do on the matter”.

Gafne also expressed amazement, that an assistant attorney general was making decisions that belong in the hands of lawmakers.

Referring to another incident that took place on Simcahs Torah in which police forbade the traditional Hakafos shnius held in gan soccer form taking place until the mechitsa was removed. “I know for certain that it was because of Zilbers decision that the police closed the event” said Gafne “what gives her the rite for such criticism, this is how we want to liv our lives. I hope she won’t have me arrested if I put a mechitsa at my wife’s birthday party”.

Responding to Gafne’s letter, minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked said, “there is no connection to Zilber and the events cancellation. The attorney General himself appointed a committee to oversee the matter and they decided that a national event will not take place with a mechitsa - excluding scenarios in which most attendants desire it.”

In defense of Gafne she added that “Assistant attorney General Zilber, does not have the authority to order locale officials to cancel an event that is being held with a mechitsa”.

Translated by Eli B.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!