Life

Listen to the Soulful Women of the Wall Ad Rejected by Israeli Radio

Women of the Wall gathered at the Kotel in May. Image by Getty Images

By Josefin Dolsten April 14, 2016

Image by Nikki Casey

Israel public radio rejected a Women of the Wall ad that included a woman chanting parts of the priestly blessing for being “controversial.”

The ad, which is in Hebrew, invites listeners to attend the first ever priestly blessing ceremony in the women’s section of the Western Wall. The blessing will take place during Passover, on April 24.

The event is being funded by the estate of the late Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in Star Trek. In a nod to his Jewish heritage, he used a finger gesture performed during the priestly blessing as a greeting for his Star Trek character.

Listen to the ad:

Translation:
May the Lord bless you and guard you
May the Lord shed light upon you and be gracious unto you
Why is this Passover different from all others? This Passover, there will be a women’s Priestly Blessing for the first time at the Western Wall, in the women’s section.
Women from all over the country are welcome to bless and be blessed in the Priestly Benediction. Sunday April 24, Hol Hamoed Passover at 8:45 AM
Amen

Josefin Dolsten is a New York-based writer who has reported for the Forward, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Times of Israel and other Jewish publications. She currently works as an account director at Fenton Communications, supporting organizations that work to advance racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive rights and more. Dolsten earned her B.A. in government from Cornell University and her M.A. in comparative religion and Jewish studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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