Rabbi Shmuel Itzkowitz Strongly Opposes Joint Jewish-Christian Prayer at Western Wall

Rabbi Shmuel Itzkowitz, a prominent rabbi of Jerusalem's Jewish Quarter and former senior teacher at the Morasha Talmud Torah, has sharply criticized the initiative for a joint Jewish-Christian prayer at the Western Wall. He described the event as unprecedented and halachically problematic, rejecting claims that moving the prayer to the Davidson Center or the Southern Wall would resolve these issues. Rabbi Itzkowitz emphasized that the Chief Rabbinate has ruled the entire Western Wall, including the Davidson Center, as holy, and that all walls of the Temple Mount hold equal sanctity, making location changes irrelevant.

He also challenged the portrayal of the event, questioning how organizers misrepresented the facts by stating the prayer would involve only a few people and be broadcast digitally. Rabbi Itzkowitz accused the initiative, led by Mike Evans who calls on Jesus' name, of aiming to Christianize rather than simply pray for Israel's peace and security. He concluded his remarks with a biblical verse affirming the sovereignty of the God of Israel.

In response, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation denied any approval for a mass Christian prayer event at the Western Wall plaza, stating no permits for sound systems or large gatherings have been granted. They clarified that the Western Wall remains open to all visitors regardless of religion, as it has for decades, but no large-scale prayer event as reported is authorized. The foundation explained the initiative involves a digital connection of millions of Christians worldwide to the Western Wall on October 7 as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Israel and its residents, rather than a physical gathering at the site.