Israelis Entitled to Pray ‘at Any Place in Any Form,’ Cabinet Decides

Israel’s Cabinet decided unanimously here today that everyone in Israel is entitled to pray “at any place in any form. ” The decision followed a report to the Government by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol about alleged pressures against a group of Reform Jews who had held worship in a hall belonging to the B’nai B’rith, in Tel Aviv, and then were said to have been expelled from the hall.

Mr. Eshkol told the Cabinet that he had investigated the development in response to many letters on the issue from Israelis and from other sources abroad. He said his findings showed there was no pressure against the Reform group, and that the Tel Aviv municipal authorities had not threatened to increase taxes on the B’nai B’rith building if the hall had been permitted for use for Reform worship.

Dr. Zorah Warhaftig, Minister for Religious Affairs, added that his Ministry had not threatened to withdraw its kashruth certificate from the management of the B’nai B’rith building. He said the hall had been leased for one evening only, and that the management of the B’nai B’rith building never leases its hall on a permanent basis.

In reply to a question by newsmen, a spokesman for the Government said that the question of “freedom of religion” was mentioned by the Cabinet only in connection with the resolve to permit prayer to any one in “any place in any form, ” and did not mean that Reform or Conservative rabbis in Israel will be entitled to perform marriage ceremonies or “other official acts. ” These, he noted, are restricted only to rabbis authorized to conduct such activities by the Chief Rabbinate, which is “the only one with standing recognized by the State.” The Chief Rabbinate is Orthodox.