hallal susan western wall
Sarah Silverman's sister: Rabbi Susan Silverman and daughter Hallal detailed at Israel's Western Wall

Sarah Silverman's sister was among ten women who, on February 11, were detailed by Israeli police at the Western Wall. Sarah Silverman's sister Susan, who is a rabbi from the liberal Reform stream of Judaism, was detained along with her teenage daughter. The Jerusalem holy site, also known as the Wailing Wall, has been a site for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage for centuries.

The act of civil disobedience in question was the fact that Sarah Silverman's sister and ten others were wearing religious garments that Orthodox Judaism reserves for men only. This isn't the first time that Sarah Silverman's sister has committed an unorthodox act to make a statement about Judaism. She is a part of a group called "Women of the Wall". Police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said the women had acted "against regulations set by the High Court."

Chaired by Anat Hoffman, the group visits the Western Wall often to conduct religious practices reserved for men. "This is just attrition," said Hoffman. "They want to the group to become frightened." Despite being detained often, no woman from the group has ever been formally charged with any crime.

Although the women were released, the offense is punishable by six months in prison and a fine of $3,000. They were also told that they could not return to the Western Wall for two full weeks.

"So proud of my amazing sister ... and niece for their [balls-out] civil disobedience," Sarah Silverman tweeted. "Ur the t*ts!" Sarah Silverman's niece tweeted back: "@SarahKSilverman hey auntie, want a copy of my mugshot?" It's good to know that despite the deep-running political and religious issues surround Orthodox control of the Western Wall, people can still maintain a sense of humor.

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