Messianic Jews in Israel Win Supreme Court Victory for Tax Benefits

Messianic Jews in Israel have secured a significant legal victory following a ruling by the country’s High Court of Justice. The court granted the Tiferet Yeshua congregation tax benefits, a decision that extends beyond financial considerations. The congregation, based in Israel, had been seeking tax-deductible status since 2013, a process that involved prolonged legal challenges.

The tax-deductible status allows Israelis to receive a 35% tax refund on donations to public institutions. However, in Israel, this status must be approved by the Finance Committee in the Knesset. In October of the previous year, Moshe Gafni, then head of the Finance Committee and an ultra-Orthodox member of the Knesset, rejected the application for Tiferet Yeshua. His decision received support from the opposition, led by then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Ron Cantor, the congregation’s former pastor and current elder, expressed disappointment with the initial rejection. He stated, “Sadly, it seems the one thing that our government can agree on is to deny basic rights to Messianic Jewish Israelis.” The court found that the Finance Committee had incorrectly assumed it had the authority to consider an organization’s engagement in “controversial” activity, thereby overreaching its power.

The ruling emphasized that the criteria of “controversy” could lead to decisions based on prejudice and inequality. One judge noted, “The criteria of ‘controversy’ enables decisions based upon extraneous considerations, prejudice, inequality, and arbitrariness.” This decision underscores the importance of freedom of religion and conscience, particularly for organizations engaged in religious services.

Gafni responded by asserting that the Finance Committee had established a procedure to deny tax-exempt status to missionary organizations deemed illegal. He warned that the High Court should not criticize the committee’s authority in future disputes. The ruling comes amid ongoing tensions between Messianic Jewish communities and government officials, reflecting broader debates over religious freedom and the role of faith in public life.

Just a year prior, the government pressured a local cable TV company to remove a Messianic program, Shelanu, from its broadcast lineup. The Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting suspended HOT Cable’s license, citing concerns that the program was preaching the gospel to Israelis. Although evangelism is legal in Israel, the council accused HOT Cable of misrepresenting the content and intentions of Shelanu TV. This incident highlights the complex interplay between religious expression and state regulation in the country.

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