For decades after its liberation, Jews of all affiliations – or no affiliation – prayed at the Kotel in accordance with the 1,500-year-old prayer tradition at the site.

Recently, the Reform movement orchestrated a crisis in “Diaspora-Israel relations” and convinced Israeli politicians that a “Kotel Compromise” is necessary. Following negotiations between the Israeli government, Women of the Wall, and Reform and Conservative movements, the Israeli government’s solution – the Kotel Compromise – would partition the Kotel into two plazas – the “traditional” Kotel Plaza, and a heterodox plaza for mixed prayer. This, said the Reform and Conservative movements, would mend the rift between Diaspora Jews and Israel.

With the formation of a new government in Israel, it is unfortunately planning to implement this plan in the coming months.


Am Echad, an organization aimed at uniting Jews from the Diaspora and Israel around the values of our 3,000-year-old heritage, deepening cooperation among our communities, and upholding Jewish interests in Israel and around the world, has launched a campaign to let the Israeli government know that large swaths of Diaspora Jewry oppose any change in the status quo at the Kotel, in contrast to what the Israeli government has been led to believe. The goal of this campaign is to give a voice to Diaspora Jews, who believe that it is partitioning the Kotel that would create a rift between Israel and the Jewish communities worldwide. Let’s tell the Israeli government that hundreds of thousands of Diaspora Jews want to continue worshipping the way that Jews have done for thousands of years.

To sign the petition and tell the Israeli government, “No! Don’t divide the Kotel!” go to OneKotel.org.

For more information on Am Echad visit AmEchadUnited.org.