Israeli ministers on Sunday strongly condemned reports of a ruling made by the Tel Aviv Municipality requiring dozens of synagogues in the city to sign a new contract that includes a clause stating that they must operate "without distinction of gender or faith."
The municipality stated that "there is no concern" about synagogue operations changing in the city. “The clause in question is inaccurate and has changed over recent years. The non-discrimination clause was introduced several years ago and applies to all municipal-public institutions in the city,” the municipality explained.
“Over 400 synagogues operate in Tel Aviv-Yafo and will continue to thrive. There is no concern that their activities or character will change. It’s all baseless nonsense,” the municipality underscored.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi described the officials behind the decision-making as "damned, wicked people," adding, "Throughout generations, enemies from home and abroad have risen against Judaism, all the axes and pitchforks that were raised against it were swallowed up and became as if they had never existed."
"The Tel Aviv Municipality is trying to restore the appearance of Dizengoff Square from Yom Kippur of 2023," Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said. "While Arab prayers are held at the Dolphinarium without interruption, and while mosques are not required to sign any declaration, synagogues and worshippers in the first Hebrew city feel like a persecuted minority."
The Union of Community Rabbis also condemned the municipality's decision, describing it as "deliberate harassment, under the guise of a legal ruling," and that it's an "unequivocal decision to harm the sanctities of Israel, and to deliberately hinder the steps of the God-fearing public.
"We are sharply considering our steps and examining how we can stand against [Mayor] Ron Huldai's decrees. We can guarantee one thing: tradition will be preserved, and we will not give in under any circumstances to attempts at abuse. The people of Israel are alive, and we invite the public to join the regular prayers in the synagogues and reinforce this clear statement."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that the municipality "declared war on Judaism. To harm synagogues, the heart of the identity and tradition of the Jewish people, is a shame and disgrace and crosses every red line.
"I demand that the Tel Aviv Municipality immediately stop this dangerous and despicable move. We will not lower our heads, we will not remain silent, and we cannot turn the Jewish state into a 'state of all its citizens' on the backs of the synagogues."
Synagogues to face eviction proceedings?
Synagogues that do not sign the contract issued by the Tel Aviv Municipality are "expected to face eviction proceedings," according to a released statement penned by Justice Minister Yariv Levin.
"There are approximately 130 synagogues, most of which have existed since before the establishment of the state," the statement continued. "Some were built on land allocated by the municipality but have not yet been registered, and now the municipality is seeking to impose a draconian and unprecedented contract on them, which seriously harms the faith and lifestyle of synagogue worshippers.
"What's the next step? Require synagogues to serve pork at Kiddush? Turn on the microphones on Shabbat? How far will the persecution of Jewish identity in Tel Aviv go? How come a similar shocking directive hasn't been issued for the city's mosques?"