The local management of the Beit Halutzot, a center maintained by the American Women’s League for Israel, denied today that Orthodox pressure was responsible for refusal to Jerusalem’s first Reform congregation to hold High Holy Day services in the center’s auditorium.
The small Reform group, which has been holding Friday services in that auditorium, was notified several weeks ago that it could not hold High Holy Day Services there. The management explained today that introduction of Torah Scrolls and other ritual objects for High Holy Day services would interfere with the “basically secular” nature of the center. The management said it had promised to permit use of the auditorium for Friday services after the High Holy Days.
The Reform congregation after numerous refusals from hall owners who admitted privately they feared Orthodox reactions, finally managed to obtain a small hall for the High Holy Day services.
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