Tel Aviv Municipality Enforces Equal Access on 130 Synagogues Amid Legal Disputes

Tel Aviv's municipality has introduced new lease agreements for about 130 synagogues built on municipal land, requiring them to provide services to all local residents regardless of gender or faith, a move that has sparked controversy and legal challenges. Mayor Ron Huldai defended the policy as a standard administrative measure to prevent discrimination in public buildings, while synagogue leaders argue it conflicts with Orthodox Jewish practices such as gender-separated prayer. Deputy Mayor Haim Goren clarified that problematic clauses were removed after consultations with synagogue representatives, emphasizing that the finalized contracts do not include demands for open services to all faiths. The city contends that synagogues are public resources akin to community centers and must be regulated to serve local neighborhood needs, especially where synagogues lie empty except during specific times. Some congregations refusing to comply have faced eviction lawsuits, leading to disputes in rabbinical and civil courts, with the municipality appealing rulings that protect certain synagogues as religious endowments. The situation reflects broader tensions between secular municipal oversight and religious autonomy in managing places of worship on public land.