Reform women
Reform womenCorinna Kern/Flash90

The "Hotem" organization slammed Israel's Education Ministry for what appears to be a withholding of information regarding the Ministry's relationship with the Reform Movement.

Responding to Hotem's demand that the Education Ministry comply with the Freedom of Information Act, the Ministry wrote, "The Reform Movement does not receive support from the Education Ministry, and we have no other contact with them."

However, Hotem has received documents which prove the Education Ministry in fact gave the Reform Movement 180,999 shekels for "funding centers for additional Jewish education in public elementary schools," as well as additional funding for interests related to the Reform Movement.

The Education Ministry's 2015 budget showed the Reform Movement received 235,000 NIS; in 2014, they received 459 NIS.

The Education Committee will discuss on Wednesday the issue of adding Reform content to the Education Ministry's approved curriculum.

"We are disturbed that the Education Ministry is allowing a small and marginalized group to affect the education of Israel's children," Hotem said. "Most of this group, including those in secular schools, are interested in authentic Judaism, not in copycats or in cooperating with the Reform Movement.

"We suggest the Education Ministry provide true statistics in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, and cease attempts to hide the truth from the public."

The Education Ministry has not yet responded to the report.