Chareidi parties in Knesset succeeded in pushing through their ‘mikve bill’ which simply circumvents a High Court of Justice ruling favoring Reform converts, permitting them to toivel in a state-run mikve. The bill is authored by MK Moshe Gafne and bans all converts from toiveling in state-run mikvaos as Gafne is aware frum converts will find private mikvaos and Reform converts will be left without a solution. The bill was passed in Knesset on Monday night the eve of 20 Tammuz.
Leaders of the Reform and Conservative Movements in Israel and The Diaspora have been fighting hard against the bill along with Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Natan Sharansky. Sharansky is proposing the construction of a number of mikvaos for Reform and Conservative Jews at the expense of the Jewish Agency.
Reform and Conservative leaders reject this however, standing on principle, explaining the state-run mikvaos and their personnel are funded by the state and therefore, these mikvaos must be open to all, not just Orthodox.
Rabbi Gilad Kariv, director of the Reform Movement in Israel said the passing of the bill into law “breaches the clear promise of the prime minister not to legislate against the progressive denominations”. He fears this will lead to a widening of the chasm between world Jewry and the State of Israel.
Regev added “The members of this Coalition have dealt a lethal blow to the collective future of the State of Israel and its economy.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
This is a Kiddush Hashem. What is more important, that we have to realize what Power we have. Could you imagine if a million Torah Jews make aliya NOW!!! What impact that would have on the Political scene!!!!!The Russians made Aliya!!! Why can’t the Jews in the USA???? You want cheaper Housing, come and fight for it, With 15 seats in the Knesset is better than 6!!! Will it HAPPEN???? Antisemitism is on the rise in the Golden Medina. I don’t preach to people about Aliya, I simply tell them, that BeEzrat Hashem ALL Jews will be in Israel, but on who’s TERMS!!!