Mayors demand that gov't drop plan to take over appointments of city rabbis

• Published date: 16 April 2024
• Author: ELIAV BREUER
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The government's initiative was first proposed as a bill in 2023 but delayed due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. The government again tried to advance the bill in March 2024, but public outcry coupled with a veto by Benny Gantz's National Unity party led to the bill being stalled once more

However, the religious affairs ministry realized that it had the power to make many of the changes with secondary legislation alone (known as "Takanot"), which did not require Knesset approval, and published the plans on April 11.

Different cities in Israel have differing religious characters – from the ultra-orthodox Bnei-Brak to the largely secular Tel-Aviv – and accordingly, existing law gives local authorities a majority in the committee that is responsible for electing their authority's chief rabbi.

While local chief rabbis, meaning chief rabbis of cities, towns, regional councils, etc., are officially subordinate to the national Chief Rabbinate, the reality on the ground is that each local chief rabbi has broad independence to adapt religious services to the character and needs of each authority.

Government initiative first proposed this as bill, was stalled

Malkieli's secondary legislation would alter this by changing the makeup of the committees that elect the local rabbis so that the Religious Affairs Minister and Chief Rabbinate – and not the local authority leaders themselves – have a majority. It can, therefore, appoint an ultra-orthodox rabbi as the chief rabbi of Tel Aviv.

In their letter, the mayors argued that cities and towns should be able to choose rabbis who are suited to the religious character of their constituencies. Furthermore, the municipality...