Rockville Centre women support Israeli Women of the Wall

In an effort to combat religious extremism and force Israel to recognize the diversity of Judaism, 58 female members of Central Synagogue of Nassau County, including Ida Weiss Plaia, president of the congregation, came to the temple sanctuary before the start of the Succoth holiday on Sept. 22, to be photographed holding Torah scrolls by fellow congregant Howard Wechsler.

The event was a show of support for Women of the Wall, a group of Israeli women who are fighting discrimination in their own country for praying each month at the Western Wall (Judaism’s most sacred site) in Jerusalem. Because she is a woman, Anat Hoffman, the director of the Israel Religious Action Center, has been arrested for this and accused of what amounts to seditious acts. She faces time in jail if convicted.

The photos of women from the community with the Torah scrolls will be uploaded to her organization so it can “inundate the Israeli government and religious leaders with 10,000 images of women teaching, studying, learning , reading and embracing Torah scrolls."

Plaia said she is gratified so many women felt compelled to offer their support. She knows that there were people who couldn’t make it on that Wednesday and will try to set up another opportunity for women to join— as well as reach out to other synagogues in the area to see if they’re interested.