Rabbi Dee sparks anger for holding illegal, gender-segregated prayer in Tel Aviv
"I respect the rule of just law, but if a law is out there to persecute Jews then it's the duty of every Jew to break that law until they change it," Rabbi Dee told Jewish News.
Rabbi Leo Dee has faced criticism for leading an illegal, gender-segregated prayer session in Tel Aviv, against the ruling of the Mayor of Tel Aviv and Supreme Court.
Rabbi Dee, whose wife Lucy, 48, and daughters Maia, 20, and Rina, 15, were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist earlier this year, was seen being pushed by a man passing by the illegal prayer in Dizengoff Square but continued his sermon.
The issue of gender segregation in public spaces has dominated the debate and news in Israel since Yom Kippur, when several such illegal prayers were held around the country, causing clashes between secular and religious Jews.
Speaking to Jewish News on Thursday, Rabbi Dee said: “I respect the rule of just law, but if a law is out there to persecute Jews then it’s the duty of every Jew to break that law until they change it…. We want them to cancel the law that prevents people from praying separately.”
He added: “It’s a law that goes against human rights and I think people should be out there praying on the streets of Tel Aviv in any service they wish to, Christians, Muslims, Jews, with and without segregated seating. To show the Mayor of Tel Aviv that he’s not the one who decides what type of judaism is allowed… What the mayor of Tel Aviv and the Supreme Court want is to have state religion, like Russia. But we aren’t Russia.”
Rabbi Leo Dee holds an illegal, gender segregated prayer in a public space (Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv), telling @JewishNewsUK that that the mayor of Tel Aviv and Supreme Court don’t decide what type of Judaism is allowed. https://t.co/mNVOUik8Dh
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) October 5, 2023
The gender segregated prayer was however dispersed by officials from the municipality due to its illegality.
Rabbi Dee claimed that the prayer was “peaceful” and that it was a “fix” for what happened on Yom Kippur in the very same square, where secular Israelis demonstrated against religious Jews who violated the law by holding a gender segregated prayer.
Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir came to Rabbi Dee’s defence on Twitter, sharing the video of him being pushed by a man, calling it “shocking and disturbing.”
Likud lawmaker and former Israel Hayom editor, Boaz Bismuth also defended Rabbi Dee, calling him a “hero” and “role model” despite violating a clear Supreme Court ruling.
Others, however, criticised at Rabbi Dee for breaking the law and provoking secular people in Tel Aviv who are vehemently against gender segregation in public spaces.
Israeli human rights activist Yariv Oppenheimer called it Dee’s prayer a “provocation” and an activity that “doesn’t bring hearts together but creates hatred and division.”
Well known left-wing, ultra-orthodox journalist, Yisrael Frey, also attacked Rabbi Dee, calling the prayer a “provocation.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
