Reform Jewish Movement Condemns Knesset Vote to Criminalize Egalitarian Prayer at the Western Wall
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 Judaism’s 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 Israel—especially in North America—85 percent of Jews worship in egalitarian communities. Criminalizing those forms of prayer at Judaism’s 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 Yisrael—the 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 people—or 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 Yisrael—the unity of the Jewish people—and undermine Israel’s 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 Israel’s promise as a homeland for all Jews.
American Conference of Cantors
Cantor Josh Breitzer, President (he/him)
Rachel Roth, Chief Executive Officer (she/her)
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi David Lyon, President (he/him)
Rabbi Hara Person, Chief Executive (she/hers)
Union for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President (he/him)
Shelley Niceley Groff, Chair (she/her)
Association of Reform Jewish Educators
Rabbi Stacy Rigler, RJE, CEO
Stacy Rosenthal, RJE, President
Men of Reform Judaism
Larry Pepper, President (he/him)
Steven Portnoy, Executive Director (he/him)
Women of Reform Judaism
Karen Sim, President (she/her)
Rabbi Liz P. G. Hirsch, CEO (she/her)
Women’s Rabbinic Network
Rabbi Lisa Delson, Co-President
Rabbi Simone Schicker, Co-President
Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, Executive Director