Malchieli: There is good news in the budget - we will begin the process of appointing neighborhood rabbis

Facing the religious councils: In the presence of the Minister of Religious Services, MK Michael Malchieli, and the Ministry's Director General Yehuda Avidan, a "round table" was held yesterday at the Ministry of Religious Services with the heads of religious councils.

About forty heads of religious councils took an active part in a meeting with the directors of the core departments in the ministry and the heads of religious councils, with the aim of streamlining and improving the accessibility of religious services to citizens.

In his opening remarks, the Minister of Religious Services said: "We are partners and I serve you. When you are strong - the religious services are strong. The ministry's budget contains great news for strengthening and establishing the religious councils. I would like to thank the Chairman of the Shas Movement, Rabbi Aryeh Deri, for anchoring the budget for the religious councils and working on your behalf. And also, to Director General Yehuda Avidan for the many performances and achievements in increasing the budget."

Minister Malchieli referred to future plans in his remarks: "After a freeze of many years, I intend to begin the process of appointing neighborhood rabbis."

The director general of the ministry emphasized the importance of cooperation between the ministry and the religious councils: "The policy of the Ministry of Religious Services is to work in cooperation with the councils. We are working towards an era in which the heads of religious councils will feel like partners in making decisions and formulating the ministry's policy. The budget for the religious councils is a statement that says, 'We came to strengthen you.'"

The heads of the religious councils raised professional issues in the areas of burial, marriage registration, religious buildings, budgeting and control, and building the capacity of human capital in the religious councils. The department managers who took part in the discussion presented the solutions to these issues.

The Ministry of Religious Services emphasizes that this is Phase A within the framework of the 'round table'. And in the near future, religious council heads who did not take part in this meeting will be summoned, with the aim of meeting all religious council heads and hearing their opinions.