The news is reporting about an army unit on tour in tel Aviv that wanted to go into the Great Synagogue. Upon entry they were asked to pay 10nis each, which they refused and were thus refused entry.
The president of the shul was asked on the radio about the incident and he explained that the shul cannot afford the expenses of maintaining the shul so they charge a 10nis entrance fee to help defray costs. He later added that they will consider giving a discount to soldiers or possibly waiving the entire entrance fee.
I get it. A shul is not cheap to maintain, especially with a dwindling congregation. Personally if I go to a shul to daven I try to always make sure to give a shekel or two donation in the pushke, and of course I am a member of my regular shul and pay membership fees. That shekel or two that I give is a donation, sort of a thank you for being available for having the lights on, for having air conditioning or heating, for having the water running in the bathrooms - it is not and should not be an obligation.
Do they have the right to charge for entry? Sure, I guess so. But, charging an entrance fee to go into a shul is one of the surest ways to stop people from coming to shul. Charge for the High Holidays tickets - that is normal, even if nowadays it is trendy to not charge because millennials think they should not have to pay even for that, charge membership fees for people who come regularly. Charge for turning on the air conditioner. Charging for walking through the front door is just a bad idea. And if you are going to charge for just walking in, it better be worth it. Whatever is behind that door better be an amazing show.
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