Hundreds Demonstrate Against First-Ever Missionary Provocation Near Kosel
May 30, 2023
Hundreds of pained Jews demonstrated Sunday morning at the entrance to the Davidson Center, near the Kosel, against brazen missionary activity being held at the holy site for the first time.
In conjunction with the protest, led by Yad L’Achim, leading Gedolim issued a kol koreh (public declaration) on erev Shavuos stating that: “The heart cannot be silent in the face of this terrible chillul Hashem, whereby avoda zara rituals are practiced at the footsteps of the southern Kosel, facing the Kodesh Hakodashim.”
The kol koreh was signed by the Rav of the Old City, Hagaon Harav Avigdor Nebenzahl, and one of the roshei yeshivah of Yeshivas Chevron, Hagaon Harav Dovid Cohen.
It concluded: “There is an absolute obligation for everyone who has a sensitive heart, who feels pain at the dishonor to the Divine presence, to protest by all means the chilul Shem Shamayim on Motzaei Chag Matan Toraseinu…”
In the kol koreh, Harav Cohen referred to the call of the rosh yeshivah, Maran Harav Gershon Edelstein, to join the protest. “On the eve of chag Matan Toraseinu, I was summoned also at the behest of Rabbeinu Maran Harosh Yeshivah to join in the Tefillah protest against the terrible chillul Hashem, as befits bnei Torah…”
Yad L’Achim released the following statement: “We are speaking of a shameless event on the part of missionary bodies that operate year round in Yerushalayim to get Jews to convert to Christianity, R”l.
“To our great sorrow, the provocative event was billed as Jews and Christians ‘Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem’ … The missionaries say that the event, to last for 26 hours, was to perpetuate ‘that man’ in Yerushalayim, in the knowledge that we are speaking of the holiest site in the world, and the influence this has internationally.”
Yad L’Achim added: “To our great sorrow, appeals to Knesset members and ministers didn’t help. How ironic that specifically now, with a right wing-religious government, this shocking, unprecedented event is allowed to take place.”
