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The 20Th Knesset Religion and State Jewish Pluralism Watch

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The 20Th Knesset Religion and State Jewish Pluralism Watch Summary Report of the 20th Knesset Religion and State Jewish Pluralism Watch Over the last four years, the Knesset was home remaining laws reinforced religious centralization to a particularly dramatic interplay of religion and restrictiveness. and state. Legislators backtracked from the few steps towards religious freedom made in the In this report, we delve into the budgets channeled previous Knesset, consistently sanctioning laws towards religious services, consider the 20th Knesset ’s to strengthen the Orthodox monopoly over legacy, and identify the principal activities of each religion in Israel while rejecting hundreds of bills of the parties. We also review some 130 milestones that sought to endorse a degree of pluralism and from this Knesset’s first day until its dissolution. religious equality. We sincerely hope that the information gathered In the following report we have sought to paint a here will be used as a resource in the efforts to build portrait of the 20th Knesset, led by the most right- a Knesset committed to the religious freedom that wing and most religious coalition government the Israeli public wants and needs. This tool should in Israel’s history. Of the 326 religion-and-state- be utilized by asking questions and demanding related bills that were introduced in the Knesset- accountability throughout the election season in three-quarters of which aimed to promote order to strengthen the fundamental aspiration religious freedom-- only seventeen were passed that Israel be a Jewish and democratic state. into law. Of those which passed, a mere three sought to advance religious freedom while the Download the full interactive report in Hebrew 2 Summary Report of the 20th Knesset SUMMARY OF THE REPORT The 20th Knesset enacted 623 bills into law Meretz led with an average of 7.2 bills per Knesset (approximately a tenth of all bills – 6,643), with only member. Likud, Shas and Kulanu, on the other hand, 326 of these bills addressing religion and state. Of introduced the least amount of bills in this area. these, just seventeen bills passed their second and Among lawmakers, MK Merav Michaeli introduced third readings, with almost all of them (thirteen) the most bills on issues of religion and state, with advancing and strengthening the Orthodox 27, followed by MK Aliza Lavie and MK Elazar Stern monopoly of religious centralization and coercion with 23 and 17 bills, respectively. in Israel. The issue of Shabbat played a significant part in A breakdown of the total of 326 bills concerning the 20th Knesset and almost led to its dissolution religion and state shows that 24% (79) dealt with several times. Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman religious services in Israel (religious councils, ritual resigned in protest of the work on the Israel baths, burial, kashrut, municipal rabbis), 17% (55) Railways infrastructure on Shabbat, and then dealt with marriage and divorce, 13% (42) with together with others pushed forward the so-called equal rights for the LGBT community, and 12% Supermarket Law (seeking to close supermarkets of the bills (38) sought to define the nature of and other food businesses on Shabbat). The issues Shabbat. Two bills regarding military conscription of public transportation and athletic competitions were introduced to the Knesset. on Shabbat also precipitated political disputes, The Zionist Union introduced a record number of government decisions and various bills. Dozens of bills (80 concerning religion and state, followed bills on these topics introduced by parties across the by Yesh Atid with 71 bills and Meretz with 36 political spectrum were dropped from the Knesset bills. Relative to the number of MKs in the faction, agenda during the 20th Knesset, while three new The 20th Knesset TIMELINE meet to discuss Women of the Wall. 5.7.2015 The government repeals Minister Azoulay: “The Wall belongs the conversion reform law, and also th 21.3.2015 20 Knesset is sworn to everybody. The Women of the approved the transfer of authority in. Likud – 30 seats, Zionist Union Wall are engaging in provocation. over the rabbinical courts from the – 24, Joint List – 13, Yesh Atid – 11, The Reform Jews are a catastrophe Ministry of Justice to the Ministry Kulanu – 10, Jewish Home – 8, for the Jewish people.” of Religious Services. Minister of Yisrael Beitenu – 6, United Torah Education MK Naftali Bennett: “It is 23.6.2015 Prime Minister Judaism – 6, Meretz – 5. vitally important that large numbers Benjamin Netanyahu at the Jewish th of immigrants from the former 14.5.2015 Israel’s 34 government Agency Assembly: “Israel must be Soviet Union be allowed to convert is sworn in – Benjamin Netanyahu is a home for all Jews, from all the in accordance with the halacha.” Prime Minister. Some government streams – Orthodox, guidelines: “The government will Conservative, and 11.11.2015 Prime Minister preserve the Jewish character of the Reform.” Benjamin Netanyahu at the state and Jewish heritage, and will General Assembly of the Jewish respect all religious communities Federations of North America: and their traditions according to “All Jews should feel at home in the principles of the Declaration of 2.7.2015 The Board of Governors Israel – Reform, Conservative Independence.” of the Jewish Agency decides to and Orthodox. We will direct 17.6.2015 Minister of Justice establish an autonomous Orthodox our efforts to developing and Ayelet Shaked and the Minister for rabbinical court abroad, that will nurturing Conservative and Reform Religious Services David Azoulay conduct conversions independently communities in Israel.” of the Rabbinate in Israel. MK Moshe Gafni: “These converts will have to be tracked, and as soon as we identify the bogus Jewish Agency rabbi responsible, their conversions will not be recognized or authorized.” RELIGION AND STATE 3 bills concerning Shabbat passed into law: Clause the Wall and others seeking full implementation of 10 of the Basic Law: Israel – the Nation State of the compromise agreement regarding egalitarian the Jewish People; the Supermarket Law, and the and mixed-gender prayer at the southern end of Hours of Work and Rest Law. the Wall. The 20th Knesset rejected them all. The bill Lawmakers made several attempts throughout the proposing the transfer of authority for approving 20th Knesset to amend the law concerning marriage the egalitarian prayer plaza to the Prime Minister - to allow civil marriage, civil unions, same-sex gained across-the-board support from lawmakers marriage, and to recognize marriage by all streams in the plenum, with the exception of MK Bezalel of Judaism, as well as even more basic proposals Smotrich who opposed the bill. seeking to annul the clause calling for a prison Throughout the 20th Knesset’s term, Hashgacha Pratit sentence for couples who choose to marry outside (an independent, Orthodox rabbinical authority) the Orthodox Rabbinate. The vast majority (about granted kashrut certification, which prompted fierce 55 bills) were stricken from the agenda or failed political debate, committee discussions, and bills. to pass the preliminary stages of legislation. Only Even the Supreme Court ruled on the subject, notably two bills passed their second and third readings: in the decision prohibiting a relationship between a The Rabbinical Jurisdiction Law – International kashrut supervisor and the object of his supervision, Authority (a government bill) and The Rabbinical which led to the formulation of a bill proposing to Jurisdiction Law – Amendment – Sanctioning dismantle parts of the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly men jailed for refusing to grant their wives a get over kashrut. Also during the 20th Knesset’s term, in (religious divorce) (MK Moalem-Refaeli). 2018, the kashrut authority in the Chief Rabbinate A number of bills concerning the status of the introduced a new logo for kashrut certification to be Western Wall reached a vote, some seeking to used uniformly by all religious councils, testifying to secure the Orthodox status of the entire length of the quality of the kashrut. 1.12.2015 MKs Ksenia Svetlova, 10.12.2015 MK Bezalel Smotrich Jewish organizations. MK Stav Michal Rozin and Tamar Zandberg speaks against the Reform and Shafir: “How can you possibly not request a Hannukah candle-lighting Conservative movements: “We change the regulations when you ceremony at Azarat Nashim at the must not under any circumstances see that only 4% of the budget goes Western Wall. MK Eliezer Moses: “I grant recognition or legitimacy to to non-Orthodox organizations?” don’t know what connection women any of the streams.” 2.2.2016 MK Meir Porush on the have with the Western Wall.” 31.1.2016 After three years of approval given to setting up the negotiations, the government new plaza at the Western Wall: approves the Western Wall plan “We must not allow the Reform and enabling the establishment of an Conservative movements to gain a egalitarian prayer space. Minister foothold. The Reform movement Uri Ariel and the ultra-Orthodox is responsible for the shocking ministers oppose the decision, and rates of intermarriage that we are Ministers Elkin, Levin and Regev witnessing in the USA.” 9.12.2015 Rabbi David Lau on refuse to allocate a budget. Minister of Education Naftali 6.3.2016 Minister Uri Ariel Bennet’s visit to a Conservative boycotts the weekly government school in Pittsburgh: “The meeting because of his opposition Conservatives are most certainly to new prayer arrangements at the Jews but not because of their moral Western Wall. “This is a blatant identity. We must tell them clearly: violation of the status quo. The if you continue in this manner, you problem is not the plaza which will lose your children and your was set up two years ago, but the grandchildren.” Minister Naftali 1.2.2016 The Special Committee for recognition of the Conservative and Bennett: “Israeli leaders need to the Transparency and Accessibility of Reform movements who will now bring Jews closer, not drive them Government Information meets to start making changes in conversion away.” discuss the budgeting of pluralistic and in marriage and divorce.” 4 Summary Report of the 20th Knesset The Nissim Committee was appointed during the ritual baths and circumcision, while some bills in 20th Knesset.
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