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Religious Affairs Ministry

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on April 27, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 21, 2025, 1:19 am
Former chief rabbi says man asked for his approval to kill AG; police arrest suspect
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef informed authorities that a Jerusalem resident requested he issue a religious decree allowing him to murder Gali Baharav-Miara
By Charlie Summers
Body bags of victims from the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, are stacked in a container at the Shura military base, near Ramle, October 24, 2023. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
April 26, 2025, 2:28 pm
IDF still holding 350 bags of unidentified human remains from Oct. 7 massacre – report
Military rabbinate reportedly wants to repeat forensic examination, which religious services ministry opposes; issue said set for decision in a committee over coming days
By ToI Staff
Undated photo of Tzviki Tessler. (Israel Police)
December 27, 2021, 10:28 am
In bid to up safety, religious affairs minister taps supervisor for Meron festival
Tzviki Tessler named to oversee arrangements for annual spring event at pilgrimage site, as authorities strive to prevent repeat of last year’s deadly crush
By Tal Schneider and ToI Staff
Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana (Yitzhak Kelman)
November 9, 2021, 2:27 pm
Daily Briefing Nov. 9 – Can a Modern Orthodox politician change the status quo?
Political reporter Tal Schneider and analyst Haviv Rettig Gur discuss ToI’s interview with Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana and his planned reforms for kashrut, conversion
By ToI Staff
Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana speaks during a Conference of the 'Besheva' group in Jerusalem, on August 1, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 2, 2021, 10:24 am
Religious affairs minister said planning shakeup of religious councils
Matan Kahana intends to replace 90 council chairs with academics, including women; move expected to draw fire from ultra-Orthodox parties
By ToI Staff
Pro-Israel demonstrators gather outside the Federal Building during a rally in support of Israel in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (AP/Jae C. Hong)
October 6, 2021, 3:40 am
Blazing new path, Religious Affairs Ministry looks to connect with expats in US
Minister Kahana says project will aim to keep hundreds of thousands of Israelis linked to former home, after years of being ignored by government outreach to Jewish communities
By Tal Schneider
Naftali Bennett, now Israel's prime minister, pictured in the ultra-Orthodox town of Elad, September 6, 2020 (Flash90)
September 2, 2021, 2:50 pm
Most Jewish Israelis support government’s proposed religious reforms, poll finds
Just 22% of respondents say they trust the Chief Rabbinate for kosher certification; 62% back plan to cut daycare subsidies, which mostly affects ultra-Orthodox community
By Ben Sales
Illustrative: An Israeli rabbinical court reviews a conversion case. (Flash90)
July 21, 2021, 7:00 pm
Religious affairs minister said planning to liberalize Jewish conversions
New plan, which comes on heels of proposed kosher supervision reform, would enable conversions outside auspices of the Chief Rabbinate, giving authority to municipal rabbis
By Raoul Wootliff
Ultra-Orthodox representatives of the Chief Rabbinate cross Jaffa Road in Jerusalem as they deliver a kosher certificate to a local restaurant, on December 31, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
July 20, 2021, 7:38 pm
Religious affairs minister seeks to reform kosher certification, irking Haredim
New plan would create private agencies, overseen by the Chief Rabbinate, to provide certifications to businesses in each city
By Amy Spiro
Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana, left, with Haya Kliger, on July 15, 2021 (Courtesy)
July 16, 2021, 5:18 pm
Woman to lead local religious council for only 2nd time in Israeli history
Under minister Matan Kahana’s new approach to include women in key positions, Haya Kliger selected to lead Sde Ya’akov-Jezreel Valley — the first such appointment in 17 years
By ToI Staff
Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather around a bonfire during celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer in Bnei Brak on May 6, 2015. (Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)
May 6, 2020, 9:03 pm
No lockdown, but ministers ban bonfires, close off Meron ahead of Lag B’Omer
Cabinet said to reject National Security Council recommendation to impose another holiday curfew next week to prevent outbreak
By ToI Staff
A man stands near the body of Holocaust survivor Aryeh Even, 88, the first man to die in Israel from the coronavirus epidemic, at the Har HaMenuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem, early on March 22, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 22, 2020, 9:51 pm
Burial society gears up for COVID-19 funerals, as health officials lay out rules
Ministry initially bans religious funeral rite for coronavirus victims, then backtracks; chevra kadisha volunteers, in protective gear, being trained to deal with virus casualties
By Marissa Newman
Rabbi Eliezer Berland lights a bonfire during the celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer on Mt. Meron in northern Israel on May 3, 2018. (Shlomi Cohen/Flash90)
May 22, 2019, 1:34 am
Sex convict rabbi set to be honored with bonfire-lighting, perhaps for last time
Amid protests, Religious Affairs Ministry says there’s no law to bar Eliezer Berland from Lag B’Omer ceremony, but signals it will draw up rules to exclude him in the future
By Marissa Newman
The Ma'asiyahu Prison complex in Ramle, near Tel Aviv. (Courtesy/Israel Prisons Service)
May 31, 2018, 6:17 pm
Haredi inmates to get prison-issued hats and jackets after minister steps in
Prisons had enforced ban on ultra-Orthodox civilian garb during prayers for fear of jailbreaks; Sephardic chief rabbi, Shas minister had protested move
By Marissa Newman
Shas MK David Azoulay during a Knesset committee meeting. February 13, 2013. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
May 29, 2018, 1:31 pm
Shas minister, chief rabbi protest hat and jacket ban for Haredi prisoners
Prison enforces order for fear of jailbreaks by inmates praying in civilian garb; among those affected is jailed former chief rabbi Metzger
By Marissa Newman
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