The Tel Aviv Municipality announced on Monday that it will not permit gender-segregated public prayers during the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days, following last September's protests over gender separation in public spaces. The decision has sparked anger, including from several government ministers.
In a letter, Tel Aviv Municipality Deputy CEO Rubi Zluf wrote "Pursuant to your request to hold an event in the public space, and after receiving several requests from various private entities to hold Yom Kippur prayer events/gatherings in city squares/public parks and after examining the matter, it was decided to end the practice that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the municipality provided city squares for such activities on Yom Kippur, and which was appropriate due to the importance of staying in open spaces during that period.
Zaluf added that the city would return to its "long-standing practice" of not allowing public spaces such as squares and gardens to be used as synagogues or gathering places for private events, encouraging the public to utilize the city's many synagogues instead.
"Accordingly, all requests to hold prayers/gatherings in squares, etc., are not approved, and thus your request is denied," he concluded.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen criticized the move, saying, "This decision by the Tel Aviv Municipality to forbid Yom Kippur prayers in public spaces is puzzling, divisive and must be canceled."
Minister May Golan expressed stronger disapproval, calling the decision "despicable" and accusing Mayor Ron Huldai of "trampling traditional customs" and "causing deliberate pain."
National Unity Party MK Matan Kahana, an observant Jew, sarcastically remarked, "Wow... such liberalism. You managed to prevent prayers during the Holy Days in the city streets. You must be proud. It will be interesting to see if this 'liberalism' will make you fight against other activities planned to take place in public spaces. Sad."
Chotam, an activist organization dedicated to preserving and nurturing the Jewish character of the State of Israel, condemned the decision, claiming discrimination against Jewish prayers while alleging that Muslim prayers in public spaces had been permitted.
"Yesterday, we were supposed to hold a public prayer in Jaffa where the Tel Aviv Municipality allowed Muslim prayers. In our official request, we asked to hold the prayer under exactly the same conditions (separation and partitions) as the Muslims prayed. We declared that we would pray only for the IDF soldiers," the group said. "Needless to say, our Jewish prayer was not approved. The Tel Aviv Municipality has abandoned Judaism and is fighting against Jews, while embracing nationalist Muslims. We call on the government of Israel to liberate Tel Aviv from the corrupting progressivism."