Zionist Federation states Kotel must remain a home for the whole Jewish people

The Zionist Federation of Australia has raised concern about proposed legislation before Israel’s parliament that would place prayer arrangements at the Western Wall under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate, as Progressive and Masorti groups warn the move could criminalise non-Orthodox worship.

ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said the issue goes to the core of Israel’s relationship with Jewish communities worldwide.

“The Kotel is not the property of one stream, one party, or one religious authority. It is one of the great symbols of Jewish memory, longing and return. It must remain a place where every Jew can feel they belong,” he said.

Mr Leibler pointed to the 2016 Kotel compromise as the most balanced framework, preserving the traditional character of the main plaza while providing a recognised egalitarian space at Ezrat Yisrael.

“It was a serious effort to hold the Jewish people together, not to divide us,” he said.

He warned against deepening internal divisions at a time of heightened pressure on Israel and Jewish communities.

“Jewish unity cannot mean asking some Jews to stand at the margins of a place that belongs to all of us. It means making space, with dignity and respect, for the diversity of Jewish life,” he said.

“A Jewish state that asks world Jewry to stand with it in moments of crisis must also ensure that world Jewry is not made to feel like a guest in its own sacred story.”

In a joint statement issued on 26 February, the Union for Progressive Judaism, ARZA and Mercaz-Masorti said the legislation would have serious legal and communal consequences.

“We strongly condemn the advancement of legislation that would grant the Chief Rabbinate exclusive control over prayer at all areas of the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s most sacred sites,” the organisations said.

They warned the proposal could expose non-Orthodox Jews to criminal penalties. “The proposed law would effectively criminalise non-Orthodox Jewish worship, preventing Jews, particularly members of Masorti and Reform communities from holding prayer services at the Wall under the threat of imprisonment for up to seven years.”

The joint statement framed the issue as one of religious freedom and equality. “This is a law that targets Jews who are not orthodox and undermines the fundamental principle of freedom of religion,” it said.

“This holy site belongs to the entire Jewish people and must not be subject to political control or religious coercion.”

It said the implications extended beyond Israel, particularly for Australian Jews affiliated with Progressive, Reform and Masorti movements.

“For the majority of Australian Jews who identify with Progressive, Reform, or Masorti traditions, these developments feel like a direct assault on the legitimacy of our own religious lives,” the statement said.

“For the Australian Diaspora, this is more than a local Israeli dispute; it is a question of whether the Kotel remains a home for one wall for one people, or a site where the diversity of our tradition is legally erased.”

“At a time when the Israeli government is asking for our unwavering advocacy and support in the face of rising global antisemitism, it is simultaneously signaling that our Judaism is ‘second-class’ or, worse, a legal transgression.”

“It feels as though the State of Israel is criminalizing our very identity as Jews,” the statement added.

The organisations said they would write to the Israeli Embassy in Australia urging action to prevent the legislation from becoming law.

The ZFA called on Israeli decision-makers to uphold the existing compromise and ensure the Western Wall remains a place accessible to all Jews.