Response to the Mayor of Jerusalem’s comments on the Western Wall

In response to the comments from Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion saying that Reform Jews should not be able to pray together at the Western Wall, Senior Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner and Chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors, Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky made the following joint statement:

“The Mayor of Jerusalem is right on one thing – the Western Wall is holy to all Jews. It is deeply saddening that he can recognise this fact, yet also state that a significant portion of Am Yisrael should be excluded from the site. The vision of a Jewish state in the land of Israel is only realised if it is a state for the entire Jewish people – not one which caters to a small portion. We agree with our colleague in Israel, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, that instead of “exclusion, intolerance, and disrespect”, the Mayor of Jerusalem should be helping to build mutual respect between all the citizens of his city – whatever their religion or practice. We will continue to support Rabbi Kariv and the Israeli Reform Movement as they continue to fight for equal rights for all expressions of Judaism within our Jewish state”