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Allocation of Areas for Religious Services Approved At
Preliminary Reading
by Eliezer Rauchberger
At a preliminary reading, the Knesset approved a proposal by
MK Rabbi Meir Porush to mandate the designation of areas for
religious structures and mikvo'os in plans of every
new settlement, city or neighborhood. The proposal passed by
a majority of 31 MKs against 26 opponents. There was one
abstention.
According to existing law, the allocation of areas for
religious structures is a matter of choice, not an
obligation. Developers are required to allocate areas for
education, health, sanitation, and transportation needs in
new cities, settlements and neighborhoods -- but not for
religious needs. Rabbi Porush claimed that in many instances,
room for religious structures was not allocated; consequently
many places lack suitable areas for synagogues and
mikvo'os.
A case in point, he noted, is the Karkum settlement, which
has no mikveh. Subsequently, although many residents
asked for the construction of a mikveh, its secular
residents are opposed. Rabbi Porush hopes to avoid a
repetition of the Karkum incident in other cities or
settlements by designating an area for a mikveh in
every neighborhood, since taharas hamishpocho is one
of the foundations of the Jewish Nation.
Although the Ministerial Committee for Legislation decided to
support the proposal, Meretz and Yisrael Achat coalition
members made an attempt to topple it. Despite their efforts,
UTJ managed to recruit a majority to pass this proposal. They
were aided in their efforts by other religious members of the
Knesset and the Likud representatives -- including Likud
chairman, Ariel Sharon, who arrived especially for the vote --
as well as representatives of Ha'ichud Haleumi and the Arab
parties.
Rabbi Porush upbraided the members of Yisrael Achat, noting
that they have proved with their vote that their main goal is
to foment animosity toward the chareidi sector and the Torah,
and that they change their approach only when there are
coalition considerations.
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