The Ministerial Committee for Legislative Matters will
shortly present a new proposal to the Knesset, which, if
passed, will curb the penetration of the Reform and
Conservative into the religious councils. The contents of
this proposal were agreed upon last Friday at a meeting
between the heads of the chareidi parties and the Prime
Minister, who promised to preserve the status quo on
religious matters.
At the meeting, it was agreed that the proposed law, which
will be presented on behalf of the government, will determine
that each member of a religious council must sign a formal
statement saying that he agrees to accept the rulings of the
Chief Rabbinate in all matters pertaining to religion.
According to the agreement made with the Prime Minister, this
law will be placed on the Knesset's table very shortly,
perhaps this coming week, in order to accelerate its
legislation.
This proposal was prepared by the Ministerial Committee for
Legislative matters a long time ago. However, its
presentation was postponed for various reasons. Now that the
High Court has compelled the Religious Affairs Minister to
appoint Reform and Conservative delegates to the religious
councils, there is no choice but to pass this law, which will
prevent heretical elements from penetrating the religious
councils.
Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz told Ittim's reporter that this proposal
has already been accepted by the Ministerial Committee for
Legislative Matters, and that it can be brought before the
Knesset immediately. "This is the most minimal and simplest
thing that can be currently done," he stated.
Ittim's reporter writes that the committee, which was
appointed by the Interior Committee of the Knesset, is
supposed to draft a law to limit the scope of the religious
councils. However until that proposal is drafted, MK Micha
Goldman plans to turn to the Interior Affairs Minister and to
ask him not to approve the appointments to the religious
councils.
