Deputy Minister of Religious Services, Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, said today during a discussion of the Knesset Interior Committee, in which the Ministry of Religious Services was introduced, "I'm working to create competition in religious services in order to streamline them and make them friendlier, for the benefit of any citizen of the State of Israel. Religious services are for all Jews in Israel and anyone can use them. I emphasize that the religious services provided are within parameters of Jewish law. "
In response to a question from Attorney Yizhar Hess, CEO of the Masorti movement, on immersion baths for conversion, Rabbi Ben Dahan said, "Every Jew, every stream, both Conservative and Reform could use the baths, including for the purpose of conversion." Mr. Hess welcomed Rabbi Ben Dahan's statements, "I welcome the declaration of the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, who has explicitly stated that from now on there will be access for non-Orthodox streams in ritual bath usage, including non-Orthodox conversions. If so, this is a real change. We look forward to seeing these new regulations applied as soon as possible. "