Jerusalem Chief Rabbis Condemn Planned Joint Jewish-Christian Prayer at Western Wall

Avigdor Nebenzahl, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem's Old City, has issued a strong letter condemning a planned joint Jewish-Christian prayer event at the Western Wall scheduled for the 26th of Tishrei, 5787 (October 2026). He described the event as a "desecration of God's name and the Temple Mount," emphasizing that the Western Wall and its surrounding areas are sacred Jewish prayer sites exclusively. Nebenzahl called on all devout Jews to avoid participating and to actively work to cancel the event, stressing a strict prohibition against any cooperation with the organizers or participants.

The letter also firmly denies rumors that Nebenzahl had approved the event, stating, "I categorically deny any such consent to this grave event at the Western Wall, unprecedented since the destruction of the Temple." The letter warns of the spiritual and communal harm that such an event could cause at this holy site.

Adding significant weight to the protest, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel (Rishon LeZion), also signed the letter. His endorsement reflects the severity with which the Chief Rabbinate views the issue. Nebenzahl concluded his letter by urging Jews to distance themselves from what he called a "desecration of holiness" and to oppose the event "for the honor of Heaven and the Torah." He explicitly stated that participation alongside believers in Christianity is unacceptable.

This controversy adds to ongoing disputes over the nature of prayer and religious activities at the Western Wall, which have included past conflicts over Reform and Conservative Jewish prayer groups. Unlike previous disputes, this protest specifically targets the planned joint prayer with Christians, which Nebenzahl regards as a violation of the sanctity of the site. Previously, Nebenzahl had condemned attacks on Christian clergy in the Old City, highlighting the severity of desecrating God's name, but this case centers on opposing shared worship at the Western Wall itself.