In what has become a huge letdown and public disgrace, a proposed bill to pass “Mihu Yehudi” as the Rebbe pleaded has failed, due to the abstention of right-wing members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

The new legislation, proposed by MK Avi Maoz, sought to ensure that registration as Jewish in Israel’s population registry would only recognize conversions performed according to halacha, as the Rebbe pleaded for decades, and not those conducted by Reform or Conservative movements, as the Supreme Court currently requires.

In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that Reform and Conservative conversions must be recognized under the Law of Return, which defines a Jew as “someone born to a Jewish mother or who has converted and is not of another religion.” Maoz’s bill aimed to circumvent this ruling, stipulating that only conversions through the Rabbinical Courts would allow a person to be officially registered as Jewish.

In the vote, 60 MKs opposed the bill, while only 15 supported it – primarily members of Yahadus HaTorah and Shas – causing it to fail at its preliminary reading. The Charedi parties, currently in opposition over the conscription law and not bound by coalition discipline, voted in favor, as they were not afraid of losing anything.

In contrast, Likud and right-wing MKs from Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism, including key figures who had publicly endorsed the legislation just a month ago, abstained.

Supporters of the bill noted that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s previous statements were under scrutiny. During the Yud-Tes Kislev central farbrengen in Kfar Chabad, he had publicly declared, “We need to pass the ‘Who Is a Jew’ bill.” Yet today, Otzma Yehudit did not back the effort.

According to the Noam Party, “Despite a personal and direct appeal from Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Yaroslavsky, head of the Beis Din Rabonei Chabad, to Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to support the bill, they and their party members chose to absent themselves, effectively defeating it.”

MK Avi Maoz called the outcome a “historic missed opportunity” and emphasized that the struggle over Israel’s Jewish identity will continue publicly and in parliament. “Today it became clear who is willing to stand behind their declarations about the nation’s Jewish identity and who chooses to run away at the decisive moment,” he said.

The letter by Rabbi Yaroslavsky to Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, among others, states:

“This matter was deeply in the heart of the Rebbe of Lubavitch, who for many years spoke endlessly about amending the law. Certainly, correcting this matter will strengthen spiritual matters in our holy land and will bring continued blessing and success in all Jewish affairs.”

“I respectfully request that you support the population registry bill presented by MK Avi Maoz”, he added.

In response, coalition sources and Otzma Yehudit claimed, “MK Maoz is not genuinely interested in passing the bill; he is seeking a cynical political maneuver. When a bill is raised for a vote and fails, its next vote is automatically postponed by six months. This is exactly what Maoz is doing – trying to gain politically, but in fact harming the chances of the bill passing.”

They added, “Maoz’s approach is completely contrary to the instructions of the Chabad rabbis, who directed that the bill should only be promoted when there is a clear majority to pass it. Unfortunately, it seems his goal is to destabilize the coalition and undermine the stability of the right-wing government.”

This statement seems to be a blatant fabrication, as Chabad rabbonim directly called on them to support this exact bill.

Sources in the Noam Party warned, “It would be a desecration of the Rebbe’s name if, in the next elections, votes are cast for the parties that today disrespected the Rebbe in the Knesset. Every vote for them in Chabad communities would be a serious sin. Today, 25 Tevet, will go down in history as the day Chabad effectively gave a ‘get’ to these parties.”

They added, “Contrary to claims being spread by Religious Zionism to cover up their absence, MK Avi Maoz received the approval and encouragement of Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Yaroslavsky for the legislation. Rabbi Yeruslavsky personally wrote to Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, urging them to vote in favor, a request that was ignored. Had they supported the bill, it would have passed. Today, everyone saw clearly who truly works for the full implementation of the Rebbe’s vision, and who is satisfied with empty statements that amount to nothing.”

It should be noted that, at a time when Shimon Peres was running for prime minister and promised to fix the “Mihu Yehudi” law, as per the Rebbe’s request in an effort to gain Chabad votes, the Rebbe reportedly said: “Not Peres and not Mihu Yehudi,” alluding to the major danger of sakanos nefashos that a politician like Peres would place the country of Israel in, as he was extremely weak on all matters of shleimus ha’aretz.

Today, despite the strong support of certain parties in the Knesset for the “Mihu Yehudi” bill and Chabad’s wide encouragement, those parties – and many within Chabad – have effectively remained silent on critical matters affecting the safety and spiritual well-being of millions of Israeli citizens over the past two years.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited correction to the “Mihu Yehudi” law, repeatedly demanded by the Rebbe, remains stalled. The ongoing failure to pass this law continues to contribute to assimilation and weakens Jewish continuity both in Israel and abroad.