Between American Jews and Israel: Are Pressure Tactics Fair Game? An Exchange

For a Jewish Filibuster

Daniel Gordis

Among the finds in the Cairo Genizah, that famous repository of ancient Jewish texts, are documents attesting to a little-known medieval practice known as ikuv tefillah, or delaying the prayer service. Both under Christendom and Islam, it appears, individuals convinced that their legal or personal petitions had not been taken with sufficient seriousness by the Jewish community could stand up in synagogue and prevent worship from proceeding until they’d had a chance to make their case. The privilege could be invoked by litigants in a financial dispute, by women in matters affecting their personal status, and more.