The mikva law, initiated by MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, was finally passed this past Monday in the Knesset plenum with a majority of the coalition votes. Similarly, the breach which erupted in the wake of the High Court ruling enabling Reform and Conservative groups to use the mikvo'os throughout the country for their self-styled `conversion' purposes which have no halachic relevance and are not valid according to the laws of the country as well, has been rectified.
According to the proposed law presented on Monday in the Knesset by member of the Finance Committee, MK Rabbi Yaakov Asher, who declared that he was happy for the privilege presented to him to bring this law in the name of the committee, each local religious council will be able to decide whom to allow the use of the mikvo'os for the purpose of immersion in a mikveh - or to deny permission. In other words, the religious council shall be authorized to deny recognition to Reform or Conservative bodies and to prevent them from using the mikvo'os counter to the Halacha. It was also emphasized that the law does not change anything; it only preserves the status quo which has held sway all these years.
The UTJ lawmakers noted that the Reform and Conservative movements do not have even one mikveh in the U.S. where their base is and their main activities are. Therefore it is hypocritical and sheer mischief making of them to ask to use these facilities in Israel.
