Itim Opposes Law Regulating Judaism In The Public Sphere As ‘Jewish Supremacy’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — As part of a series of interviews with the organization Itim, which seeks to facilitate Jewish life and make it more inclusive for all Israelis, attorney Ohad Weigler, head of the Public Policy Department at the organization, discussed with Arutz Sheva a new and controversial legislative proposal, entitled “Judaism in the Public Sphere”, which has been initiated by MK Galit Distel Atbaryan of the Likud.

Weigler expressed deep concern over the proposal and other legislative moves relating to religion and state. “I understand that the statement ‘we are a Jewish state’ should allow people to express their Jewish identity. But when you open the bill and read what’s written there, you realize how far the points and claims it contains take us into real extremism compared to the current situation.”

According to him, the proposal seeks to allow prayer anywhere in the public sphere without discretion, and even obligates private bodies that receive partial state funding to allow any citizen to enter and pray in their offices. “If I want to hold a prayer in a certain place in the public sphere, they must allow me to,” he explains, adding: “The second step, which takes this to the extreme, is that even in private places they must allow me, even if I am not part of them.”

When asked about MK Distel’s response to the criticism, namely her claim that the law applies only to state institutions and is conditioned on non-disruption,Weigler replied sharply: “I don’t like to say it, but MK Distel is simply lying.” He rejected the possibility of a mistake. “She knows the details very well, and nevertheless chooses knowingly to mislead the public.” He noted that the proposal even includes requiring private nonprofit organizations, including non-Jewish ones, to allow the placement of a mezuzah in their offices.

Weigler views these moves as attempts by Knesset members to gain political capital at the expense of national unity. “Likud MKs, and also MKs from Otzma Yehudit, think that this sentiment of forcefulness, of power and Jewish supremacy, that’s what will get them points in the primaries,” he claimed.

In addition to the prayer bill, Weigler warns about a government memorandum seeking to expand the authority of the rabbinical courts to investigate people’s Jewish status. “The rabbinical courts will be able, on their own initiative, to open Jewish-status investigations against any citizen, without any indication,” he warns.

The implication, he says, is that anyone, even someone registered as Jewish and living as a Jew, may find themselves required to prove their Jewishness in everyday situations, such as applying for a job. “This will fracture our society.”

A third issue Weigler raised is the attempt to cancel the kashrut reform initiated by former minister Matan Kahana. A new draft bill seeks to return the monopoly to the local religious councils and prevent them from issuing kosher certification outside their jurisdiction unless approved by the minister. “The minister is not allowing the field to work and decide what suits it; instead, he wants to decide which religious councils will function,” he criticizes, stressing that Itim is now working against these three initiatives, which he views as harmful to a broad and unifying Jewish identity.