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Government Sanctioned Stools and Worshippers’ Separation at Wailing Wall

May 15, 1929
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Revelations that throw a new light on the question of the status quo of the Western Wall of the Temple, commonly known as the Wailing Wall, were made today by Rabbi Schor at a session of the Jerusalem Communal Council.

Rabbi Schorr presented two letters from the Palestine administration in which certain concessions were granted for Jewish worshippers at the Wall.

The first letter, dated 1920, from the secretariat of the government, stated that the High Commissioner refers to the question of the Rabbinate for permission for the separation of men and women worshippers, and declares that the Rabbinate may arrange this.

The second letter, from Sir Ronald Storrs, former Civil Governor of Jerusalem, states that the use of stools by worshippers is not opposed.

The use of stools by worshippers on the spot before the Wailing Wall has been a recurrent cause for unpleasant incidents. Last Day of Atonement the troubles arose over the use of a screen separating the men and women worshippers.

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