Kay Long went to the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem’s Old City to day to place a prayer note in the Wall. But when she got there, an Orthodox female guard at the women’s entrance reportedly refused to let her in.
Above: Kay Long at the Kotel 1-6-2015
Transgender Woman Denied Entrance To Kotel
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Kay Long went to the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem’s Old City to day to place a prayer note in the Wall. But when she got there, an Orthodox female guard at the women’s entrance reportedly refused to let her in.
"This was my first visit to the Kotel in many years. I arrived with a friend who had come from Madrid, and when I came close to the women's section, a woman who stood at the entrance, who prevents non-virtuous [i.e., immodestly dressed women] women from entering the place, noticed my height and came up to me and said, 'You cannot enter.' When I asked 'Why not?' She responded that it was a section for women only. Out of embarrassment, and because I did not want to start a commotion at a place such as the Kotel, I told her that she cannot decide who's a woman and who isn't and I started walking towards the men's section – truthfully, not with the aim of entering, because I do not feel comfortable on the men's side and wouldn't wear a kippah (skullcap). When I arrived at the (men's) side, a couple of Orthodox men yelled at me that 'the women's side is over there.' Once again embarrassed and not wanting to start a commotion, because I respect the Orthodox and believe that for them it is more important to be there, I decided to leave," Long told Ynet.
"It is unfortunate that the Orthodox prevented me from entering. I decided to respect them and not fight. It's unfortunate that the Orthodox woman did not choose to respect me as I chose to respect her," Long concluded.
Long posted a photo of herself leaving the Kotel (please see above) with the caption: "From a young age we learn that if we place a note at the Kotel our prayers might be answered… All that's left now is to take a picture and say a prayer from afar with the hope that it will be answered. Because God is everywhere and loves us all."
The Kotel is supposed to be open to anyone who wants to visit it, and shawls and head coverings are made available so visitors conform to minimum Orthodox modesty rules.
However in practice, the site is really run much more like a haredi synagogue than a national heritage site, and non-conforming visitors are often harassed – even when they’re willing to comply with the rules.
It is unclear if the Kotel’s haredi rabbi has issued a policy on how to deal with transgendered people who want to visit the Kotel or, if he has, if that policy is actually legal under Israeli law.