Title: Rosh Yehudi Appeals Tel Aviv Municipality’s Decision to Ban Second Rounds on Simchat Torah
Date: [Insert Date]
In a bid to challenge the Tel Aviv Municipality’s decision to prohibit the Rosh Yehudi organization from holding second laps in the city at the end of Simchat Torah, the organization has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court. The appeal comes after the Tel Aviv District Court declined to intervene in the municipality’s decision. The High Court hearing for the appeal is scheduled to take place today.
Lawyers Efraim Demari and Uri Paz, representing Rosh Yehudi, argue in the appeal that the cancellation of the second rounds was an unfair consideration of the hostile audience and that giving in to violence or mobs shouldn’t be rewarded. In a rare move, Judge Gila Knafi Steinitz has ordered a hearing before a panel of three judges to deliberate on the matter.
Yesterday, despite the Tel Aviv Municipality’s ban and the upcoming High Court hearing, a morning prayer was held in Dizengoff Square to celebrate Simchat Torah. The prayer was led by Leo Di, a bereaved father from Efrat whose wife Lea Di and two daughters were tragically murdered six months ago in the Jordan Valley. The prayer, held in a gender-separated manner, triggered verbal confrontations with residents. Police and inspectors were called to the scene and removed the makeshift partition, but the prayer continued uninterrupted. Leo Di shared that their intention was not to be provoked, and they refused to back down.
Mittal Lehavi, the deputy mayor of Tel Aviv, commented on the unauthorized prayer, accusing a “Christian extremist minority” of intentionally using the Jewish holidays to create provocation. Lehavi expressed concern over attempts to divide the people and undermine the traditional values of Yom Kippur, emphasizing that gender segregation would not be allowed in public spaces in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, Roy Neuman, one of the leaders of the protest against legal reform, criticized those who planned religious provocations, labeling their actions as nothing more than provocation and an attempt to ignite a religious war. Neuman argued that these actions ultimately violate the rights of those who genuinely wish to pray.
Itzik Alrov, a media person, shared a personal anecdote, highlighting his father’s peaceful and respectful approach to prayer. Alrov emphasized that his father never encountered any conflicts or disturbances when practicing his religious rituals and urged for peaceful coexistence in Tel Aviv.
The Supreme Court hearing will shed light on the Tel Aviv Municipality’s decision to ban Rosh Yehudi organization’s second laps during Simchat Torah celebrations. The outcome of the hearing will have significant implications for the freedom to practice religion in public spaces and could set a precedent for future religious disputes in the city.