02/26/2026
๐ก๐๐ช ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง: ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ป๐ ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐น
The Reform Movement unequivocally condemns the preliminary vote in the Israeli Knesset to advance legislation that would criminalize egalitarian Jewish worship at the Western Wall, one of Judaismโs holiest and most enduring symbols. If enacted, the proposed bill by MK Avi Maoz of the far-right Noam party would render forms of Jewish prayer not sanctioned by the ultra-Orthodox Chief Rabbinate punishable by up to seven years in prison.
This alarming proposal represents an unprecedented attempt to criminalize mainstream Jewish worship in the Jewish state. It is a direct affront to Jews in Israel, North America, and across the globe who pray in egalitarian settings.
The Kotel does not belong to one stream of Judaism. It is a national symbol and a spiritual inheritance of the entire Jewish people. The existence of a dignified egalitarian prayer space alongside gender-segregated sections does not diminish the rights of Orthodox or ultra-Orthodox Jews to worship according to their tradition. Religious freedom in Israel must not be treated as a zero-sum proposition.
The global implications of this bill cannot be overstated. Outside Israelโespecially in North Americaโ85 percent of Jews worship in egalitarian communities. Criminalizing those forms of prayer at Judaismโs holiest accessible site would alienate millions of Jews from the State of Israel at a time when Jewish unity is both fragile and essential. Only months ago, at the October 2025 World Zionist Congress, representatives of global Jewish communities overwhelmingly supported restoring direct access to the Ezrat Yisraelโthe section designated for egalitarian worship. This legislation moves decisively in the opposite direction.
At the same time, this is not primarily a Diaspora issue. The bill would directly harm and potentially imprison Israelis who choose pluralistic expressions of Judaism or who visit the Kotel and its outer plaza for heritage visits, IDF ceremonies, and tourism. The number of Israelis seeking egalitarian prayer continues to grow. This legislation would label their Judaism illegitimate and even criminal.
The debate over this legislation raises a fundamental question: Will Israel be a state of the Jewish peopleโor a state for only one interpretation of Judaism? For North American Jews, engagement on this issue is not interference; it is investment. Jewish sovereignty must reflect the diversity, dignity, and shared destiny of the Jewish people everywhere.
This proposal risks setting a broader precedent. If codified, it could embolden efforts to restrict recognition of non-Orthodox conversions, limit public funding for pluralistic institutions, and expand rabbinic court jurisdiction in ways that further erode religious freedom. This is not an isolated fight but part of a larger ideological project.
We call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use his authority to prevent this legislation from advancing and to instruct members of his coalition to reject this brazen attempt to criminalize egalitarian prayer. Enacting such a law would severely damage Klal Yisraelโthe unity of the Jewish peopleโand undermine Israelโs foundational commitment to freedom of religion and conscience.
The Reform Movement remains steadfast in our love for and commitment to the State of Israel. Precisely because of that commitment, we will continue to advocate for a Zionism that reflects the full diversity of the Jewish people and safeguards the right of every Jew to approach the Holy One in their own voice.
We urge the global Jewish community to take immediate action. Join our Reform and Conservative partners worldwide in calling on Israeli leaders and diplomats to halt this dangerous legislation and uphold Israelโs promise as a homeland for all Jews.
โข Take action: https://arza.org/send-an-email-to-your-local-consulate/
โข Statement link: https://www.ccarnet.org/reform-jewish-movement-condemns-knesset-vote-to-criminalize-egalitarian-prayer-at-the-western-wall
