Israeli rabbinate

Rabbinate accused of defying court as Israeli women left waiting for exams

Rabbi Seth Farber, the founder and head of ITIM, said the women had been left waiting for hours and that the organization was trying to get them food for lunch.

Three women who arrived in the morning to sit the Rabbinate exams finally do so at a four-hour delay, April 27, 2026
SUPREME COURT Justice Noam Sohlberg attends a ceremony for fallen Israeli soldiers whose burial place is unknown at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on March 6.

Rabbinate seeks retrial on ruling allowing women to take exams, blames 'halachic noncompliance'

 Ten Israeli couples with a member serving in the IDF taking part in a mass wedding ceremony part of Chabad of Savyon’s “Marrying the Warriors”, in Tel Aviv Port, March 5, 2024.

Israelis want civil marriage, to break rabbinic monopoly in new Tu B'Av poll

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef speaks during the funeral of Yehuda Deri, the chief rabbi of Beersheba, in Jerusalem, July 9, 2024

New interim chief rabbi appointed, previous resigned over inclusion of female rabbis


Women now have more rights in Rabbinical Courts, but more must be done

In an historic decision, the High Court ruled that a woman could be chosen for a high administrative post in the Rabbinical Courts.

The Rabbinical Court of Tel Aviv

ASK THE RABBI

May one publicly shame a recalcitrant husband into granting a divorce?

THE RABBINICAL court in Tel Aviv

Before Tisha Be’Av, rabbis urge end to narrow sectoral interests

“You can’t look at the big picture if you’re hating each other. You can win small victories, make some financial gains, but we’re losing the holiness of why we’re here while we do so.”

Rabbi Michael Melchior 521

What remains of the religious status quo?

Instead of Judaism being what unites Jews in Israel with Jews around the world, our religion has become the main source of conflict.

Ultra-orthodox Jews gather for a mass prayer in protest to the government’s army conscription laws in Jerusalem in 2014

Chief Rabbinate investigates Diaspora rabbis' ‘commitment to Jewish law’

Court documents submitted by the Chief Rabbinate state that it checks “the qualifications as a rabbi and the level of his commitment to Jewish law,” of Orthodox Diaspora rabbis.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass (left) in his meeting with Chief Rabbi David Lau

July 12, 2017: Rabbinate blacklist

Reader's thoughts on the Rabbinate blacklist, El Al and the 20th Maccabiah games.

Letters

Chief Rabbi regrets rabbinical rejection of Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass’ affirmation for a congregant was rejected in 2016 along with those of 159 other Diaspora rabbis.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass (left) in his meeting with Chief Rabbi David Lau

Rabbinic blacklists, UNESCO insults and outraged Zionists, oh my!

Rather than saying to the Chief Rabbinate, “How dare you, I’m running away offended,” I say: “How dare you, you’re wrong.”

The rabbis of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate

There is no comparison

We will continue doing whatever is necessary to release chained women because, unlike their male counterparts, very little can be done to release them within in the framework of Jewish law.

Wedding rings [Illustrative]

Israel's Ashkenazi chief rabbi: Split with Diaspora 'fake news'

David Lau says accusations regarding a lack of access to the main Western Wall plaza were “lies and falsehood.”

David Lau