Inspectors requested to remove the partition: clashes during Selichot prayer in Tel Aviv

Right-wing activist Mordechai David began this evening (Wednesday) a series of Selichot prayers in a public space in Tel Aviv, which he intends to hold with full separation between men and women. The first event was held at Habima Square, and prayers are also planned later at Dizengoff Square.

According to David, he intends to hold the prayers twice a week until Yom Kippur. Municipal inspectors stood on the side, and only towards the end of the prayer did they arrive to remove the partition, in accordance with the municipal bylaw. Despite the preparations for the event, only about 20 men and four women arrived at Habima Square. A partition was placed at the site intended to create separation between men and women, but it did not stay in place and was blown over by the wind several times.

Dozens of police officers arrived at the area and secured the prayer. During the event, passersby walked through the area, and from time to time comments were heard from those passing through the square, but no clashes or unusual incidents developed since they treated David as a curiosity.

"It is a curiosity. You see for yourself how few people came here. In my opinion, it is better simply not to relate to them and not to give this event more attention than it receives anyway," said Ronen, one of the passersby who passed by with his children.

David intends to continue the series of events in the coming weeks, when alongside Habima Square, prayers are expected to be held also at Dizengoff Square, twice a week until Yom Kippur.

At this stage, there are clashes between the police and the worshippers, after the inspectors requested to remove the partition and the worshippers did not let them. At the same time, the prayer continued with a Kadishman sculpture serving as the separation partition.