Israeli Knesset Passes Eichler's Law Mandating Voice Messages for Kosher Phones

The Israeli Knesset approved the Digital Communication with Public Bodies Law (Amendment No. 5) initiated by Deputy Communications Minister Yisrael Eichler, aimed at improving communication for ultra-Orthodox Jews using kosher phones. The law passed unanimously in its second and third readings, with 16 MKs supporting it and no opposition or abstentions.

Under the new legislation, the Tax Authority, Population and Immigration Authority, and National Insurance Institute are required to send recorded voice messages to mobile phones that cannot receive SMS, alongside the usual digital notifications. These voice messages must be acknowledged by the recipient or sent multiple times if necessary, and recipients can replay the messages for at least 30 days.

This law addresses the needs of thousands of ultra-Orthodox families who use kosher phones that do not support text messaging, due to religious restrictions imposed by their community leaders. The legislation ensures these individuals receive essential public service communications in an accessible format.

The law will be implemented gradually over three years, with 60% of common services becoming accessible via voice messages within two years. It also mandates data collection on digital service accessibility in Arabic, Amharic, and Russian.

Deputy Minister Eichler praised the law as a significant achievement for those adhering to rabbinical guidance and vowed to expand its scope in the next Knesset to cover all government authorities. Eichler has previously advocated for measures benefiting kosher phone users, including eliminating fees for remote learning line overages, saving many families substantial costs.