Government Funding for Reform Movement Draws Scrutiny Following Women of the Wall Protest at the Kosel
Government funding provided to Israel’s Reform Movement has come under renewed scrutiny following Wednesday morning’s Women of the Wall gathering at the Kosel, with critics questioning why the Ministry of Settlements and National Missions continues to provide financial support to an organization whose legal arm has been at the forefront of efforts to alter the status quo at the site.
The debate intensified after members of Women of the Wall brought a Sefer Torah into the women’s section of the Kosel, an action that critics say violated the guidelines established by the rov of the Kosel and the holy sites.
According to publicly available government support records, the Reform Movement—officially known as the Reform Movement–Progressive Judaism in Israel—received more than 650,000 shekels from the Ministry of Settlements and National Missions during 2025. In 2024, the organization reportedly received nearly 900,000 shekels from the same ministry as part of broader government funding totaling several million shekels.
The published figures also indicate that government support from the ministry increased significantly after Minister Orit Strock assumed leadership of the office.
While the Reform Movement also receives funding from other government ministries, including the Education Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office, critics argue that the support provided by the Ministry of Settlements and National Missions is especially noteworthy because it is headed by Strock, a leading figure within the Religious Zionist camp.
Opponents contend that, given the ministry’s mission and priorities, it is appropriate to question whether organizations identified with the Reform Movement should be receiving funding from that office.
Critics also point to what they describe as the direct connection between the Reform Movement and the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the movement’s legal and public advocacy arm.
According to IRAC’s own website, the organization operates as part of the Reform Movement. In addition, its donation page instructs contributors to make checks payable to the Reform Movement and mail them to the movement’s headquarters on King David Street in Yerushalayim.
Critics argue that this demonstrates that even if IRAC does not appear independently in government funding records, its financial operations are conducted through the Reform Movement, which receives the government grants.
IRAC has long advocated for what it describes as equal prayer rights at the Kosel, including support for Women of the Wall services. The organization has also been involved in a wide range of legal and public campaigns on matters of religion and state, including opposition to the Basic Law: Torah Study, petitions against rabbanim and right-wing public officials, and previous legal efforts seeking to disqualify Dr. Michael Ben Ari from running for the Knesset.
Critics also noted that donations to the Reform Movement qualify for tax benefits under Section 46 of Israel’s Income Tax Ordinance—the same provision under which recognition was recently revoked from numerous Torah institutions and yeshivos.
Approximately two months ago, the advocacy organization B’Tzalmo formally appealed to Minister Strock, urging her to immediately halt government funding to the Reform Movement and its affiliated organizations.
The organization argued that public funds should not be directed to a movement it says is working against the sanctity of Jewish holy sites and against the values of the national camp. Its letter asserted that ministry funds were being provided to an organization actively seeking to dismantle the long-standing status quo at the Kosel and encourage public provocations there.
B’Tzalmo CEO Shai Glick sharply criticized the funding on Wednesday.
“The reality in which the Minister of Settlements and National Missions is funding the provocations at the Kosel is outrageous,” Glick said. “Women of the Wall and the fight against religion are not a national mission—quite the opposite. Minister Strock must immediately stop these absurd transfers of public funds that harm the Torah of Israel, the people of Israel, and the Land of Israel.”
{Matzav.com}
