Court Says Israel's Religion Ministry Discriminated Against Reform Synagogues

Yesterday's Y Net News reports on the efforts of three Reform Jewish synagogues in Israel to get the Ministry of Religious Affairs to list them on its website of Israeli synagogues. The Ministry, however, objects to listing non-Orthodox congregations. This led the congregations to sue the Ministry under Israel's anti-discrimination law. Shortly after the suit was filed, the Ministry took down the web site completely. The Kfar Saba Magistrate's Court requested that the Ministry post an updated list of synagogues online including the Reform congregations. When the Ministry refused to do so, the court awarded each of the three synagogues damages of $2500.