TPS: Tel Aviv Sued Over Refusal to Allow Segregated Jewish Prayer Event Ahead of Yom Kippur
Tel Aviv municipality sued over refusal to permit gender-segregated seating at a pre-Yom Kippur prayer event at Tel Baruch beach.
Jerusalem, 17 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality is refusing to allow a major Selichot penitential-prayer gathering at Tel Baruch beach to take place with gender-segregated seating, in line with Jewish religious law and tradition.
In response, an association of community rabbis and author Irit Linur have filed a petition with the Tel Aviv District Court seeking to overturn the city’s decision and permit the event as planned.
The gathering is scheduled for Saturday night, September 19, at Tel Baruch beach, with Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, city rabbi Zevadia Cohen, and neighborhood rabbis. A large crowd is Expected to attend.
In the petition, organizers are asking the court to intervene and allow the ceremony to proceed with separate sections for men and women, as is customary at such religious events.
The Tel Aviv municipality has not issued a response.