Chabad group files petition against Tel Aviv Municipality amid gender-separation row
Organization claiming to represent Orthodox Lubavitch movement turns to courts after Tel Aviv’s mayor says 'Messiah in the Square' rally will not take place if men and women are separated.
Followers of the founder of the Hasidic Orthodox Lubavitch movement, which is known for its outreach asked to hold an event on Monday honoring him under the title of "Faith, Joy, Redemption" at the famous Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Singer Ariel Zilber and a children's' choir were scheduled to perform at the event.
The Chabad-Lubavitch movement was founded by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liady in 18th century Russia. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a descendent of Schneur Zalman, became leader of the movement in 1951 and passed on in 1994. He is commonly referred to as the Lubavitcher Rebbe and is revered by his followers and in Hasidic circles.
However, when the municipality found out that the women attending the rally would be obligated to sit in a separated area away from the men, women's organizations and City Council members demanded that Mayor Huldai call off the event.
The petition against the municipality was filed by an organization claiming to be in charge of Chabad's activities. However, the Hasidic movement says it did not initiate the petition.
The "True and Complete Redemption" organization's attorneys Itay Rozin and Yaniv Cohen filed a petition demanding to issue a conditional order instructing the Tel Aviv Municipality to justify its demand that the rally proceed without gender separation in light of the fact the rally is an event meant for the ultra-Orthodox sector.
The attorney asked for an emergency hearing on the matter to take place on Thursday.
The petition specifies the True and Complete Redemption organization stages outreach rallies meant to bring people closer to religion and accept God. It also conducts mass public prayer events based on long-lasting traditions.
According to the organization, the "Messiah in the Square" rally takes place every year in addition to many other events being held in public spaces including Rabin Square with complete gender separation.
Furthermore, the petition states that an official request was submitted to the municipality asking to hold the rally while clearly noting the event is planned to be gender-segregated.
Allegedly, the request was approved the next day.
The attorneys argue that the municipality has only recently changed its stance amid political pressure.
"This cancellation is a manipulation of the mayor who chose to launch a campaign at the expense of the Hasidic public that has a natural right to hold events in public space," the petition states.
Moreover, the attorneys said the municipality's stance is against the law that prohibits discrimination against products, services and entry to entertainment and public places, adding that the rally is clearly a religious event that justifies granting the organization's request.
The municipality announced last Monday that it would not allow gender-segregated events in its public spaces. According to the attorney general, the municipality is entitled to decide not to hold events with gender segregation.
"The attorney general determined on June 18 that it is within the municipality's purview to establish terms and conditions regarding the use of its public spaces and it is entitled to decide not to hold events with gender segregation," a statement issued by the municipality said.
"On the very day the general attorney released his decision, the municipality announced it intends to condition its approval to hold the rally on removing the gender segregation," the statement went on to say. "In any case, the municipality will review the petition and will respond depending on the court's decision."
Benzion HaCohen "Benny" Friedman, one of the organizers of the rally, told Ynet Wednesday that the gender-segregated event would be held as planned, despite the municipality's decision. "The event hasn't been canceled," he said.
