Ben-Dahan reverses call to stop state support for religious infrastructure

Ben-Dahan says his ministry had fought the cuts, decision will be changed.

By JEREMY SHARON
The Hurva Synagogue, in the main square of the Old City’s Jewish Quarter, is the focal point of a historical slihot tour. (photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI)
The Hurva Synagogue, in the main square of the Old City’s Jewish Quarter, is the focal point of a historical slihot tour.
(photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI)
Deputy Religious Services Minister Eli Ben-Dahan said last week that he reversed proposed budget cuts made in the draft annual economic arrangements law to state support for the construction of religious infrastructure.
The proposals from the Finance Ministry, revealed last week, stated that it was “decided to cancel support provided by the Religious Services Ministry for the construction of new buildings for religious services,” including synagogues and mikvaot ritual baths.
Ben-Dahan said on Thursday that his ministry had fought the cuts and that the decision would be changed.
“Across the country, in the north, south, in the center and in Judea and Samaria we will continue to build, God willing, religious infrastructure. And the Jewish people will continue to fulfill the traditions of their fathers and to draw closer to their heritage,” the deputy minister said.
“How symbolic it is that the arrangements law was published during the period of the Jewish holidays, in which all of the Jewish people, secular, traditional, national-religious and haredi (ultra-Orthodox), from all parts of Israeli society, unite in joint prayer in synagogues around Israel. Religious buildings will be constructed in the coming year as well,” Ben-Dahan said.