The Knesset plenum approved in a preliminary reading the bill for adequate representation of women in religious councils by MK Aliza Lavie.
The law constitutes an amendment to the Jewish Religious Services Law, and stipulates that the representation of women in religious councils shall not be less than half of all council members.
The explanatory notes to the proposal state: "The religious councils in Israel, whose status and authority are regulated by the Jewish Religious Services Law, are responsible for providing religious services and collecting fees for the religious services they provide in the local authority within which they operate.".
""Thus, the religious council generally oversees the proper conduct of cemeteries, mikvahs, synagogues, and the like. Naturally, these are services provided to the general public of Jewish citizens in the relevant local authority. Therefore, it is appropriate that the representation of women on religious councils, which are authorized to make decisions concerning the lives of both women and men, be ensured.".
""However, their representation on the councils is small and inadequate. Data from the Hadush Association for Religious Freedom and Equality shows that women make up only 51% of all council members. Only one in 20 members is a woman, only one-third of religious councils have a woman, and there is currently no woman serving as chair of a religious council.".
According to MK Lavie, "We all already know and know - when women are not represented among decision-makers, the consideration of social issues and topics that must be addressed with broad considerations is scarce and lacking.".
""The reality on the ground does not openly or covertly allow women to enter in many places. More women need to compete and they need to be assisted in the process. To that end, I introduced the bill. I call on all women's organizations and all cities that have a strong women's council to join this issue. As soon as more women are involved in decisions and accessibility, the service and content will be better.".
MK Moshe Gafni 'taunted' and said: "Yesterday there was an opportunity to elect a female president, and more Haredim voted for a woman yesterday than women voted for a woman yesterday. What hypocrisy.".
MK Yaakov Asher responded to the proposal in remarks he made in the Knesset plenary.
""You," the Yesh Atid MK addressed, "are populists. With every law you bring, you do the opposite. Only now have you harmed women with the dormitory decree. There is only one minister in your party. You are a demanding but not a fulfilling one.".
Deputy Minister Eli Ben Dahan responded on behalf of the government: "There is incorrect data in this bill. There is no religious council that has 20 members, and most religious councils have only five members. We have established a rule that there will be one woman in every religious council, so the representation is 20%, and this is appropriate and correct representation. There is also no 50% representation for women in other places. Several months ago, we decided in the ministry that we would abolish the composition of religious councils in order to separate politics from religious positions, and the chairman of the council would be elected in a public tender - and then this proposal would not be able to be realized anyway."
""We will begin this process in the coming weeks. We are currently awaiting approval from the Ministry of Justice, after which we will be able to distribute a memorandum of the bill.".
38 MKs supported the proposal and 12 opposed. The law will be forwarded to a Knesset committee that will decide where it will be placed for first reading.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
