Government Increases Budget for Religious Facilities by 25%

What the Government Approved

The decision was made at the meeting to approve the 2026 budget. The budget for religious facilities, used primarily for the construction and renovation of mikvehs, rose by 22 million shekels—25%. Another 40 million shekels was allocated to implement the so-called Rabbinical Positions Law.

Political Context

The funding was approved about five months after the Shas party temporarily withdrew from the government in July 2025 over the crisis surrounding the conscription law. At the time of the decision, the party had no serving minister. According to the report, the government continued providing Shas-linked coalition funds even after its withdrawal.

How Mikvehs Are Distributed

According to the Israel Democracy Institute, 902 women’s mikvehs operated in the country in 2022, of which 445 were located in regional councils. At the same time, 11.5% of Israel’s Jewish population lived in such councils. The average number of immersions at a regional council mikveh was 56 per month.

Spending Growth Over Several Years

The total budget for constructing religious facilities increased from 37.5 million shekels in 2021 to 131 million shekels in 2024—a 3.5-fold increase. The 2024 amount included one-time funding of 32 million shekels. Budget implementation falls under the responsibility of the government and the Ministry of Religious Services.

Latest legal news

• Second suspect remanded in alleged Caucasian mafia boss murder
• Civil Administration demolishes illegal structures near Zemer
• Analysis: impact of ending administrative detention for Jews in West Bank
• Former IDF soldier charged with training for terrorist purposes