Right-Wing Activist Mordechai David Plans Gender-Separated Selichot Prayers in Central Tel Aviv

Right-wing activist Mordechai David announced in a Monday interview on the "Riklin & Co." show that starting Wednesday, he will hold a series of Selichot prayers with full gender separation in public spaces in Tel Aviv. The first event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Habima Square, followed by another at Dizengoff Square, with plans to continue twice weekly until Yom Kippur. David intends to personally invite public figures Einav Tsangocker and Shikma Bresler to attend.

David emphasized that the prayers will be strictly gender-segregated and open to both men and women under this arrangement. He also stated he does not plan to seek official permits from the Tel Aviv municipality, asserting that he will hold the events regardless of police or municipal objections. When asked about potential removal by authorities, David declared, "Try to move me, I won't move," and challenged police to bring multiple patrol cars if they intend to arrest participants.

The initiative comes in the context of tensions surrounding last year's Yom Kippur prayer disruptions in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square, which David referenced as a motivation for his actions. He plans to use sound amplification at the events and expects significant attendance, though he did not specify numbers. The prayers will take place in the middle of Dizengoff Square and Habima Square, locations central to previous religious and social conflicts in the city.

David's firm stance and public invitation to controversial figures highlight ongoing disputes over public religious expression and gender separation in Israel's urban centers. The events are set to begin imminently, with the first prayer on Wednesday evening and subsequent gatherings twice weekly through the High Holy Days.