Slippery Slope

A talk by book illustrator Yossi Abulafia at the Sinai religious school in Ashkelon was cancelled after Abulafia refused to agree to the principal’s request to wear a kipa (yarmulke).

(Hebrew – mynet)

Ten women who participated in a monthly prayer at the Western Wall while wrapping themselves in a tallit were arrested and held for questioning, and a temporary restraining order from the Western Wall was issued against some of them. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Haifa Municipal Rabbinate sent out letters to banquet halls in the city, threatening to revoke their kashrut certificate if they host New Year celebrations.

(Hebrew – Facebook)

The police has tightened the limitations placed on female worshippers from the association “Women of the Wall”, who are now no longer allowed to enter the wall square while carrying a Siddur (prayer book), Torah book, or a Tallit (prayer shawl).  In addition, they have been barred from singing out loud in the square.  Female worshippers who did not adhere to the new restrictions were arrested. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Magen David Adom ["Red Star of David", Israel's emergency aid association] has set up a panel of Rabbis to oversee its work and the way in which men and women are integrated into the organization. (Haaretz)

A number of observant employees of the Bank of Israel left a Memorial Day ceremony held at by the bank in protest over the performance of singer Shuli Natan.  Other employees chose not to attend the ceremony for the same reason.

(Hebrew - nrg)

Nazareth Illit mayor Shimon Gapso demanded the removal of Russian language signs hung in the city, claiming that they are missionary in nature and are offensive to the Jewish public.

(Hebrew - Mynet)

The Ministry of Transportation ordered the Hebrew University’s Student Union to halt operation of Friday evening shuttles from dorms to the center of Jerusalem. (JPost)

(Hebrew - Mynet)

The Transportation Ministry has ordered the student union at the Hebrew University to discontinue the shuttle service from the dormitories to the city center on Friday evenings.

Students and soldiers from the Hesder Yeshivas [?] have called on IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz to reconsider his order to forbid religious troops from leaving official ceremonies which include women singing.