A Western Wall Heritage Foundation employee requested that a German Christian Abbott cover his cross on a visit to the Kosel.
A video of the incident was posted online by Germany’s Der Spiegel, causing an uproar.
The employee told Nikodemus Schnabel, the Abbott of the Old City’s Dormition Abbey, who was accompanying the German educational minister on a visit to the Kosel, that the cross was “really big and inappropriate for this place.”
Schnabel was eventually allowed to continue his visit to the Kosel without covering his cross but later complained about the incident himself on social media.
Following the incident, Germany submitted an official protest to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. Foreign Ministry officials contacted the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which clarified that it is a long-standing regulation that visitors with prominent or particularly large crosses are asked to cover them in order to show respect to the Kosel and refrain from impinging on the feelings of the Jewish mispallelim.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation stated in response: “We are sorry for the distress caused. The Kosel is open to everyone. It should be emphasized that there are no procedures and regulations on this issue at the Kosel plaza. The employee approached him and politely asked if it was possible to cover the cross to avoid unpleasantness as happened recently in the Old City, out of a desire to respect the place. When he refused, his entry was of course not prevented and the employee respected it and continued on her way.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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26 Responses
Maybe Jews don’t like seeing a large representation of the symbol of our oppression and murder for centuries upon centuries at our holiest site. And Germany throwing a tantrum over this is the epitome of irony.
If I were davening at the Kosel, I would be very disturbed by having a tzelem next to me.
No big surprise. As noted in the brief excerpt from the media coverage at the time, in 2009 there was another mindless effort by the Rav entrusted with administration of the Kosel to tell a high level German galach (aka Pope Benedict) that he also couldn’t wear his crucifix. Needless to say, Raninovitch was ignored and the Pope made his visit in full uniform.
“Ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s May visit to Israel, the rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinovitch, has said that it is not proper to come to the site wearing a cross. The pope wears a cross in all public appearances and is slated to visit the Western Wall on May 12 after a meeting with Muslim religious leaders at the Dome of the Rock. After the visit, which will include a meeting with Rabinovitch, the pope is slated to meet with Israel’s two chief rabbis, Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar. “My position is that it is not fitting to enter the Western Wall area with religious symbols, including a cross,”
Every religion has its rules: Muslims don’t usually permit non-believers into a mosque. Xtians require people to remove head-coverings. Buddhists require people to remove their shoes. The question is why these people were invited to visit at all.
I can’t believe they apologized for this. He absolutely should be made to take off his cross.
1. For all liberals/kind-compassionate people of the world including in Germany, try this at Mecca or Medina. Or, how about right here in Jerusalem at the Al-Aqsa mosque. As a matter of fact if this Abbot were allowed up there while wearing his cross (let alone displaying it) ISRAEL WOULD BE TO BLAMED!!!
2. For Germany to be upset for their Catholic collaborators in the holocaust , is very noble.
3. When in Rome… The Western wall is a globally recognized JEWISH holy site. It’s not so terrible if you’re asked to show some sensitivity.
Hmm, I wonder how Germans would react to an Orthodox Jew in a church wearing big tztitzis out and dozens of mogen dovids? Not that this would happen, but I wonder.
Frum yidden don’t enter churches with a big tallis katan hanging out because frum yidden don’t go into churches. German churches do NOT restrict yidden wearing a magen david pendant from entering. Neither does the Vatican restrict visitors dressed in the lvush or symbols of their religion from entering St. Peters Cathedral.
@Gadolhadorah
Wonder where you get your info from, but regardless…
The Kosel is not (well, shouldnt be) a park. Its a religious place that should be treated with reverence. To bring another religious symbol to there is an obvious breach of respect, like bringing your wifes best friend to your anniversary dinner.
Its self understood. And to apologize or make excuses for it is silly.
It’s always wrong to address an abbot by saying, “Heeeey Abbot.”
Chash: The quote regarding the 2009 visit by the pope from the Jerusalem Post. No one said the Kosel should be treated like an amusement park but a respectful visit by a clergy from another faith wearing the lvush and symbols of his/her faith doesn’t “disrespect” a makom kadosh. I find the casual dress and unsupervised children running around in the plaza considerably more distracting.
We should hire someone non-Jewish to dress up as a chosid and enter this abbot’s place of worship. Or maybe as a shia muslim. Let’s see the reaction.
Just wondering!! The Abbott knew (knows) the Western Wall is the most sacred place for Jews! How would the Abbott respond or feel about a Jew coming to church or the Vatican wearing a large Star of David? Would he respect this person’s religion and dress code? Just wondering!
is there any HALACHIC issue with this, if ont what right do we have to start up with this galach who would prob start a program for this if he could…. wake up zionists – we are still in galus whether we control the kosel plaza or not…
is there any HALACHIC issue with this, if not what right do we have to start up with this galach who would prob start a program for this if he could…. wake up zionists – we are still in galus whether we control the kosel plaza or not…
It’s time to say it once and foreall: Gadolhadora is a TROLL and possibly a played provocateur. He does nothing but play defense for Arabs, gays, smolanim, liberals, seculars, Tzionim etc
Pope Francis covered his cross when he came to the Kosel. Why can’t this goy do the same? ipchamistabra is right, why are these people invited at all?
Pope John Paul II invited Rav Yisrael Meir Lau to the Vatican. Rav Lau didn’t eant to come there, so the Pope offered to meet in his summer home, Castle Gondolpho. When Rav Lau arrived, he noticed that all the crosses, statues and religious pictures had been removed, and that was their territory. Moral of the story: Don’t offend people.
tossed the evil man out….I don’t bend for a cross and nor should anyone, this cross killed and still kills jews…sorry, Kotel, I live here and the cross goes…..I will never apologize for this….in fact, I am more determined to be reckless…..trust me……no one will tell me other ….216 years till 6000 and I refuse to bow to evil
ki baysi vais tfilla lchol hoamim.The essence of galus is that we have no bailus until mashiach arrives speedily and in our times.
for this very reason I do not go to the Kossel, for this reason walking out alone in this sacred territory alone is amiss….the dress code is not impeccable, hanging and killing jews throughout history and we have to say ‘sorry’….big joke…..not much different then women of the wall, all very disgusting
Hmm…
No one seems to mind the tough treatment given by the Muslims to the “infidels” who visit Al-Aqsa
ki baysi vais tfilla lchol hoamim
This means that all the nations will THROW AWAY their idols and serve ONLY the Creator in HIS house. And bring their korbanos there.
Exact OPPOSITE of what youre saying
Huju,
Thanks for the laugh
And if he would have been killed by a garbage truck, they would be wearing a big garbage truck on their neck?
Christians and Zionist both ensnare Jews that was robbed of there true heritage into false belief that ultimately leads to hatred and harm everybody knows that Christianity is idol worship and that the Torah is against as the biggest thing that there is on earth to lie to people on that is to kill them and the Zionist are the same just they hide it better in the shadow of torah and giving and it is nothing but self indulgence lust both snakes on each other