The Knesset Interior Committee on Monday, 29 Iyar, debated MK Moshe Gafne’s Mikveh bill which limits toiveling in a state-operated mikveh to compliance with regulations from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the local religious council. These regulations prohibit a convert from toiveling, regardless if the conversion is Orthodox, Conservative or Reform.

This law in essence circumvents a High Court ruling that instructed the Beersheva Religious Council to permit a Reform convert to toivel in front of a Reform beis din.

Committee Chair MK David Amsellem opened the session explaining he placed the matter on the agenda and was contacted by the Prime Minister’s Office to make certain the version of the bill presented is acceptable to Bayit Yehudi and Kulanu. Amsellem responded that he is conducting the discussion regardless of the vote on the actual bill.

MK (Kulanu) Rachel Azariya requested to stop the discussion due to the disagreement. The discussion quickly led to an exchange of shouts. Azariya continued shouting until such time the chairman ousted her from the session and take a five-minute break. MK Gafne shouted at Azariya “What kind of populism is this” and MK Yehuda Glick lamented their behavior, calling it a disgrace to the Knesset.

Azariya and her Kulanu party as well as Bayit Yehudi are opposed to the current working of Gafne’s bill, which eliminates the ‘gains’ as they view it, made in the last Knesset. Among Azariya’s fears is the bill will eliminate today’s regulation permitting a woman to toivel on her own without a balanit (mikveh lady) being presence. Azariya’s concerns are echoed by MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Muallem, both opposed to the current wording of the bill, which if favorable to Gafne.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)