Controversy erupted in the Kfar Ganim neighborhood of Petah Tikva on Friday, with several synagogues reportedly refusing to host Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich amid objections to political activity during religious services.
According to residents and congregants in the neighborhood, numerous synagogues declined requests to host Smotrich or allow him to address worshippers. Others agreed to welcome the minister, including one synagogue where the decision to let him speak sparked a heated dispute among congregants.
Organizers of the visit told Maariv that Smotrich is expected to visit approximately 10 synagogues across Petah Tikva that invited him to speak. They acknowledged that two or three synagogues had requested that politics be kept out of their services and would therefore not be included in the itinerary.
The organizers nevertheless emphasized that Smotrich was visiting one of Petah Tikva's liberal strongholds and was receiving a warm welcome from local residents.
Among the synagogues reportedly excluded from the itinerary were Young Israel, Heichal Gavriel, Ohel Yitzhak, and Nigunei Chaim.
Numerous failed efforts to convince synagogues to host Smotrich, sources say
Sources familiar with the arrangements claimed that their absence was not coincidental. According to the sources, efforts had been made to coordinate Smotrich's visit, but numerous synagogues refused to host him. They also claimed the opposition left Smotrich with the option to address residents in a public garden in the afternoon.
The controversy intensified over the decision to allow Smotrich to speak at one of the synagogues, with some congregants arguing that political activity had no place during prayer services, particularly with Israel in the midst of an election campaign.
One congregant opposed the appearance, writing, "Politicians should not be brought into a synagogue."
Another questioned the decision, writing, "Why bring division into the synagogue at all? Why? Who exactly does this serve?"
Others questioned whether the visit was intended to deliver a religious message or advance Smotrich's political interests.
One message challenged the stated purpose of the appearance, reading, "Let's not pretend otherwise; he's not coming to deliver a Torah teaching, even if that's how it's presented. He's engaging in politics on Shabbat, and we need to ask the rabbi whether he's even allowed to do that, because it's work for him."
Several congregants oppose withdrawing Smotrich's invitation to speak
However, not all congregants supported canceling the appearance. Some argued that withdrawing the invitation after it had already been extended and publicly announced would be inappropriate, particularly since the synagogue had hosted other speakers in the past.
They also warned that canceling the event at this stage could be seen as a personal insult to Smotrich.
One congregant raised concerns about the embarrassment that withdrawing the invitation could cause, writing, "There's also the issue of publicly humiliating someone. After it's already been announced everywhere that he will speak at our synagogue, preventing it is a form of insult."
As the disagreement continued, some congregants proposed a compromise that would separate political activity from religious services. Under the proposal, Smotrich would speak in the synagogue hall outside prayer times, allowing only those interested to attend.
The dispute remained unresolved ahead of Shabbat, with some congregants insisting that politics should be kept out of synagogues, while others argue that an invitation should not be withdrawn once it has been extended and publicly announced.