TEL AVIV SYNAGOGUE CONTROVERSY: City’s Equality Clause Sparks Outrage

A public uproar erupted today over a new contract proposed by the Tel Aviv municipality requiring the city’s approximately 130 synagogues to agree to provide religious services “without distinction of gender or faith.” The clause, intended to ensure equality, provoked fierce opposition from synagogue administrators who feared it would undermine the Orthodox character of their institutions. Some synagogues faced eviction threats for non-compliance, escalating tensions.

According to municipal data, most of Tel Aviv’s synagogues are built on city-owned land, with some established before Israel’s founding in 1948 and allocated to private associations. The city initiated a process to formalize agreements with these synagogues, incorporating the controversial equality clause that triggered the backlash. Critics argued the requirement could conflict with traditional Orthodox practices, which often include gender-separated services.

The Ministry of Religious Services, under Acting Minister Yariv Levin, clarified that the published contract was an outdated draft prepared months ago and already revised following objections from Tel Aviv’s rabbis. “The amended contract has been approved by the city’s rabbis and Shas representatives in the municipality,” the ministry stated, adding that it would continue monitoring to prevent any harm to synagogues.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai sharply rebuked the accusations, calling them “baseless lies” and “wild incitement” spread online. “Hundreds of synagogues in Tel Aviv-Yafo operate in full and fruitful cooperation with the municipality,” Huldai said. “The clause in question, part of a standard municipal contract for public building allocations, was revised long ago in collaboration with synagogue administrators, with mutual understanding and consideration.”