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Private member's bill · 20th Knesset · published as law 4 August 2016

חוק שירותי הדת היהודיים (תיקון מס' 21), התשע"ו-2016Law Jewish Religious Services (Amendment No. 21), 2016 · automatic translation · suggest a correction

Status: התקבלה בקריאה שלישית

Topics: Religion and state* · * from the Knesset's official law classification

Official summary of the law (Knesset)

The Jewish Religious Services Law (Amendment No. 21), 2016, was passed by the Knesset on 25 July 2016. The Law defines a "ritual immersion pool" as a covered place held by a religious council that is intended for immersion for purposes of ritual purity or conversion. The Law further provides that a religious council may decline to enter into an agreement for the use of a ritual immersion pool, even if the religious council has entered into an agreement with the State or with one of its authorities. In addition, the Law provides that it shall take effect nine months from the date of its publication, in order to allow for preparation for its implementation.

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Hebrew original

חוק שירותי הדת היהודיים (תיקון מס' 21), התשע"ו–2016 התקבל בכנסת ביום י"ט בתמוז התשע"ו (25 ביולי 2016). החוק מגדיר "מקווה טהרה" כמקום מקורה בהחזקת מועצה דתית שמיועד לטבילה לצורכי טהרה או גיור. עוד קובע החוק כי מועצה דתית תהיה רשאית שלא להתקשר בהסכם לשם שימוש במקווה טהרה, אף אם התקשרה המועצה הדתית בהסכם עם המדינה או עם רשות מרשויותיה. בנוסף קובע החוק כי תחילתו תהיה תשעה חודשים מיום פרסומו כדי לאפשר היערכות ליישומו.

Sponsors

Moshe Gafni, Uri Maklev, Menachem Eliezer Moses, Yakov Margi, Yitzhak Vaknin, Yoav Ben Tzur, Israel Eichler, Bezalel Smotrich, Mordhay Yogev, Nissan Slomiansky, Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, Yigal Guetta

Readings

What was said in the plenum

The bill, submitted by Knesset members from the ultra-Orthodox and Religious Zionism parties, seeks to establish that a religious council may refuse to enter into an agreement for the use of a ritual bath, even if it had entered into such an agreement with the state or one of its authorities, in response to a Supreme Court ruling that required allowing Reform and Conservative converts to immerse in public ritual baths. The debate centered mainly on whether the law merely preserves the existing situation and does not infringe on anyone's right to immerse, as its sponsors claim, or whether it is in fact a law circumventing the Supreme Court that discriminates between Jew and Jew and harms the Reform and Conservative streams and Israel's relations with Diaspora Jewry.

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Hebrew original

הצעת החוק, שהוגשה על-ידי חברי הכנסת מהמפלגות החרדיות והציונות הדתית, מבקשת לקבוע כי מועצה דתית תהיה רשאית שלא להתקשר בהסכם לשם שימוש במקווה טהרה, אף אם התקשרה בהסכם כזה עם המדינה או רשות מרשויותיה, זאת בתגובה לפסיקת בג״ץ שחייבה לאפשר למתגיירים רפורמים וקונסרבטיבים לטבול במקוואות ציבוריים. הדיון נסב בעיקר על השאלה האם החוק רק משמר את המצב הקיים ואינו פוגע בזכות הטבילה של איש, כטענת מציעיו, או שהוא למעשה חוק עוקף-בג״ץ המפלה בין יהודי ליהודי ופוגע בזרמים הרפורמי והקונסרבטיבי וביחסי ישראל עם יהדות התפוצות.

Arguments for

  • The law does not change the status quo and does not prevent anyone, Jewish or non-Jewish, man or woman, from any background, from immersing in a ritual bath; it only establishes that a religious council is not required to enter into an agreement with a private body for a use that is not the original purpose of the ritual bath.
    Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism)
  • The ritual bath is a halachic concept unique to the Jewish people intended solely for the purpose of ritual purification and not for other uses such as conversion not performed according to Jewish law, and the state must protect its halachic character.
    Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), David Azoulay (Shas)
  • The attempt by non-Orthodox movements to set new rules for the use of ritual baths is illegitimate because they do not constitute a recognized stream within Jewish religious law as handed down through the generations.
    David Azoulay (Shas)
  • Those accused of drafting the law are doing so in order to correct what they consider a mistake made by the Supreme Court, which intervened in a halachic matter not within its authority.
    Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism)

Arguments against

  • The law constitutes an improper circumvention of the High Court of Justice ruling and harms the principle of equality in receiving a state service funded by public money.
    Zehava Galon (Meretz), Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid), Yael Cohen Paran (Zionist Union), Michal Rozin (Meretz), Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union), Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union)
  • The law excludes and discriminates against the Reform and Conservative communities and those who convert within them, in violation of the Prohibition of Discrimination Law and of the basic right to belong to the Jewish people.
    Zehava Galon (Meretz), Yael Cohen Paran (Zionist Union), Tamar Zandberg (Meretz), Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid), Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union), Michal Biran (Zionist Union)
  • The law deepens the rift between Israel and Diaspora Jewry, most of which is Reform or Conservative, and may harm the mutual connection and the support they provide to Israel.
    Yael Cohen Paran (Zionist Union), Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid), Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union), Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union), Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union)
  • It is better to solve the problem peacefully and by establishing additional ritual baths for the Reform and Conservative public, funded equally by the public, rather than through a discriminatory law that stains the statute book.
    Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid), Yael Cohen Paran (Zionist Union), Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid), Michal Biran (Zionist Union), Yehuda Joshua Glick (Likud)
  • The commitment to establish additional ritual baths through the Jewish Agency within nine months is empty of substance and is not backed by actual agreements or planning.
    Yael Cohen Paran (Zionist Union), Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union), Yehuda Joshua Glick (Likud)
Who spoke (18)
MemberFactionReadingsSpeechesIn the final vote
Moshe GafniUnited Torah Judaism coalitionFirst reading, Third reading28for
David AzoulayShas coalitionFirst reading2for
Zehava GalonMeretz oppositionFirst reading, Third reading10against
Aliza LavieYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading, Third reading8against
Yael Cohen ParanZionist Union oppositionFirst reading, Third reading3against
Tamar ZandbergMeretz oppositionFirst reading, Third reading7against
Michal RozinMeretz oppositionFirst reading, Third reading5against
Mickey LevyYesh Atid oppositionFirst reading1against
Yoel HassonZionist Union oppositionFirst reading, Third reading4against
Ksenia SvetlovaZionist Union oppositionFirst reading, Third reading4against
Merav MichaeliZionist Union oppositionFirst reading, Third reading9against
Yaakov AsherUnited Torah Judaism coalitionThird reading8for
Michal BiranZionist Union oppositionThird reading1against
Ilan GilonMeretz oppositionThird reading3against
Elazar SternYesh Atid oppositionThird reading3against
Tzipi LivniZionist Union oppositionThird reading1against
Yehuda Joshua GlickLikud coalitionThird reading5no record
David BitanLikud coalitionThird reading1for

An automatic summary of the plenum transcripts: the debate on the bill at every reading it was voted on. Arguments are given as the speakers made them; this is not an assessment. The list of speakers comes from the transcript, without a model. Transcripts of the sittings: 1, 2, 3 · write to the author

Reservations to the second reading

8 reservations were filed: proposed changes to the text the committee brought to the second and third reading.

The reservations are intended to limit the right of religious councils to designate exclusive use of ritual immersion pools (mikvehs), to ensure equal access to them for different religious communities and converts, to prevent harm to the privacy of those immersing, to require the appointment of an official to handle women's complaints, and to delay the law's commencement until suitable alternative mikvehs are established.

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Hebrew original

ההסתייגויות נועדו להגביל את זכות המועצות הדתיות לייחד שימוש במקוואות טהרה, להבטיח שוויון בגישה אליהם לקהילות דתיות שונות וגרים, למנוע פגיעה בצנעת הפרט של הטובלות ולקבוע מינוי ממונה לטיפול בפניות נשים, וכן לעכב את תחילת החוק עד להקמת מקוואות חלופיים מתאימים.

By faction

  • Meretz opposition · 8 reservations · 5 members
  • Zionist Union opposition · 4 reservations · 24 members
  • Likud coalition · 1 reservation · 1 member
  • Yesh Atid opposition · 1 reservation · 2 members

A joint reservation counts for every faction whose members filed it.

Who proposed what
  • קבוצת מרצ · 8
    Proposes various restrictions on the clause regarding exclusive use of ritual baths, including an exemption for women paying a fee, a prohibition on offensive examinations and questions during immersion, the appointment of an official to handle women's complaints, requiring religious councils to establish ritual baths for the various religious communities, and conditions for postponing the law's effective date until ritual baths are established for all communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
    Zehava Galon, Ilan Gilon, Esawi Frej, Michal Rozin, Tamar Zandberg
  • יצחק הרצוג · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • ציפי לבני · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • שלי יחימוביץ' · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • סתיו שפיר · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • איציק שמולי · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • עמר בר-לב · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • יחיאל חיליק בר · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • עמיר פרץ · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • מרב מיכאלי · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • איתן כבל · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • מנואל טרכטנברג · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • אראל מרגלית · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • מיקי רוזנטל · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • רויטל סויד · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • יואל חסון · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • זוהיר בהלול · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • איתן ברושי · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • מיכל בירן · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • נחמן שי · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • קסניה סבטלובה · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • איילת נחמיאס ורבין · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • יוסי יונה · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • איל בן ראובן · 4
    Proposes, alongside members of the Zionist Camp and Meretz groups, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • יעל כהן-פארן · 4
    Proposes, together with members of the National Camp and Meretz factions, to change the definition of the religious council authorized to enter into a unique agreement and to require the establishment of ritual baths for the various religious communities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2
  • עליזה לביא · 1
    Proposes that a religious council that has entered into an agreement for the use of a ritual bath outside regular operating hours will be permitted not to enter into a similar agreement with another party.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • אלעזר שטרן · 1
    Proposes that a religious council that has entered into an agreement for the use of a ritual bath outside regular operating hours will be permitted not to enter into a similar agreement with another party.
    Sections: לסעיף 1
  • יהודה גליק · 1
    Proposes to postpone the commencement of the law until the day after the establishment of ritual purity baths for converts who do not convert through the state conversion system.
    Sections: לסעיף 2

Proposers and reservation numbers are extracted automatically from the committee version, and the count is checked against the numbers printed in it. The descriptions are an automatic summary. Committee version for the second and third reading (PDF) · write to the author

Reservations, sections and other votes (12)

In order. Votes on reservations and individual sections are shown separately from the vote on the bill as a whole.

Source: bill page in the Knesset legislation database ↗