Sarah Silverman's Sister Detained by Police in Israel Along With Daughter (VIDEO, PHOTO)
Sarah Silverman's sister has been detained by police in Israel, according to reports on Monday.
The comedienne's sister, Rabbi Susan Silverman, was reportedly taken into custody by Israeli police at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, along with around nine other women, for wearing a male prayer shawl.
It is believed that Rabbi Silverman had gone to the Western Wall, considered a holy site, to pray with the other women.
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However, the women showed up wearing male prayer shawls, which in Orthodox Judaism is strictly reserved for men only; women are prohibited from wearing them.
Hearing about the news, comedienne Sarah Silverman, offered her support to her sister, tweeting in her usually forward manner: "SO proud of my amazing sister @rabbisusan & niece@purplelettuce95 for their ballsout civil disobedience. Ur the t**s! #womenofthewall"
Rabbi Susan Silverman is based in Jerusalem and is part of the liberal reform movement.
Although Rabbi Silverman was detained by Israeli police, it is believed that they were not arrested nor charged over the incident. It has also been reported that Rabbi Silverman was detained with her teenage daughter, Hallel, who was with her at the time.
After her release, Hallel Silverman, seeing her aunt's tweet of support, sent a message back on the social media network, tweeting: "@SarahKSilverman hey auntie, want a copy of my mugshot?"
Officials from the region have confirmed that the women were detained and warned by police.
On Monday a protest was held at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, against the Orthodox control of the site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attempted to help the two sides compromise, and has urged for Orthodox authorities controlling the location to allow non-orthodox women to pray at the site.
According to reports, arrests are not uncommon at the monthly prayer sessions held at the Western Wall. The Independent newspaper in the U.K. has described the events as "highly charged."
In this video Sarah Silverman and Susan Silverman discuss all things "Jewish in Sister Act," a talk sponsored by the the Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies and the CAS religion department.
