The arrest of Nofrat Frenkel for wearing a tallit and carrying a Torah scroll (in a knapsack) at the Western Wall Plaza opened up a significant discussion about religious rights in the State of Israel in general and, more specifically, at the Western Wall.

In order to proceed, we must impress upon Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his cabinet, especially the minister of religious affairs, that the entire government must serve Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews, whether they like it or not.

One of my favorite Israeli expressions is "Don't be right, be smart!" - and it's so very appropriate when discussing the rights of women and Reform and Conservative Jews to pray as they choose at the Wall. Of course I want Israel to be a Jewish and democratic state, and of course I would like to see a section of the Kotel allocated to men and women who want to pray together, or for women to pray with a women's minyan and read from the Torah. But I don't think it is going to happen in the foreseeable future.

The women are right in demanding their space at the Wall, but it is more important for them to be smart. After hearing about what happened on December 18, rosh hodesh Tevet, during the Women of the Wall's monthly service, I am convinced that we should take the "smart" path and demand that the government solve the problem.

IN OUR struggle for religious pluralism, we should look for a solution that promises no confrontation with those praying at the Wall, and a maximum of dignity, inspiration and spirituality for all. The latter three cannot be achieved today, because the Women of the Wall will always be intimidated, threatened, insulted and scorned by those who lack human decency and do not live by the words of the prophet, "The righteous shall live by his own faith" (Habakkuk 2:5). The Women of the Wall will be continually disturbed by those yelling and cursing them. The atmosphere will not be peaceful, inspirational or spiritual.

In the aftermath of the Frenkel arrest, Jerusalemites and others are demanding that the capital be a pluralistic city, free of religious coercion. To achieve this, the advocates must come forward with well-articulated plans of action, and refocus their attention on the government. They must make the leaders understand that they are ultimately responsible for what is going on due to their lack of action and their placing of coalition interests above the democratic rights of Jews.

A three-tiered plan of action is called for, which will revisit the entire Western Wall complex and redefine the modalities of each area.

1. The Western Wall Plaza should be under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Municipality and not subject to gender segregation or the halachic rulings of the rabbi of the Wall. The area must not be defined as, and not treated as, a synagogue. No one will have the authority to operate a "modesty squad" enforcing a dress code. The plaza will be a place where all visitors can meet and congregate, and where non-secular public ceremonies can be conducted.

2. The northern section of the Western Wall (north of the Mughrabi Gate) will continue to serve those who feel that a separation between women and men is required.

3. The southern section of the Western Wall (south of the Mughrabi Gate) will be opened to all Jewish men and women who wish to pray together without separation. Here women can wear phylacteries and prayer shawls, and read from the Torah with joy and spirit and without being disturbed, insulted and yelled at.

IN ADDITION to opening the area for prayer throughout the week, the government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, will provide the worshipers at the southern section with the religious articles required for public prayer: arks, tables, Torahs, prayer books and Bibles.

Since 1999, it has been possible to pray at the southern section of the wall due to the work of the Masorti movement and the help of Minister Isaac Herzog, who at that time was cabinet secretary. However, the arrangement does not offer Jews the opportunity to pray every hour of the day and every day of the week, as is the practice at the northern section of the Wall. The current arrangement allows entrance for prayer at no cost only until 9:15 a.m. This was achieved only after the Masorti movement petitioned the High Court of Justice, claiming that its members had to "pay to pray" at the Western Wall's southern section.

The fact that worshipers have to pay an entrance fee to pray according to their own religious custom at the southern section of the Western Wall shows that the government is falling short of its commitment to Israelis who want to live in a Jewish and democratic state. This is a case of discrimination, where only Jewish worshipers who accept a constantly narrowing list of religious and other restrictions may access the Western Wall for free, 24/7 - while those ascribing to different rituals and beliefs must pay to exercise their democratic right of freedom to worship at the southern section of the Wall.

The above action plan is intended to end this discrimination. Our government leaders must be challenged, and held to task for their responsibility to Israel as both a Jewish and a democratic state.

The writer is the president of the Rabbinical Assembly of Israel and the rabbi of the Masorti Congregation Moreshet Avraham in Jerusalem.

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