Israel’s High Court of Justice is currently reviewing a challenge to recent legislation that affects women’s eligibility to serve as rabbinic representatives in the electoral assembly responsible for choosing chief rabbis and members of the Chief Rabbinate Council. The case centers on a law passed in December 2024, which has been criticized for effectively barring women from participating in these key appointments.
The petition, filed in December 2024 by six women with advanced religious education, the Rackman Center at Bar-Ilan University, and the women’s organization Na’amat, argues that the new amendment restricts the eligibility criteria in a way that excludes women from the group of 10 rabbinic members appointed to the electoral assembly by the chief rabbis. This assembly, which totals 150 members, is charged with selecting Israel’s chief rabbis and council members.
Under the Chief Rabbinate Law, 80 seats in this assembly are reserved for rabbinic representatives and 70 for public representatives, with most seats linked to specific religious or local government roles. The contested 10 appointments are made by the chief rabbis, in consultation with the minister of religious services and requiring government approval.
Earlier in 2024, a separate High Court ruling had determined that the term “rabbis” in this context was not limited strictly to individuals ordained by the Chief Rabbinate, thereby opening the door for women with recognized Torah and Halacha expertise to be considered for these positions. That decision was supported by a majority of justices but faced dissent.
Following this ruling, the Chief Rabbinate Council in May 2024 formally declared that women could not serve as rabbis within its framework, citing interpretations of Jewish law that barred such appointments. The December 2024 amendment codified that a qualifying “rabbi” for the electoral body must be ordained by the Chief Rabbinate after passing its prescribed examinations, or hold an eligibility certificate for certain rabbinic posts. Because the Chief Rabbinate does not ordain women, the petitioners contend that this definition closes the previously recognized pathway for female candidates.
A separate, related High Court decision in July 2025 struck down the Chief Rabbinate’s prohibition on women taking its examinations. The court ruled unanimously that barring women was discriminatory, noting that passing the exams confers religious learning recognition linked to employment and salary benefits. However, this ruling did not resolve whether women are eligible for the electoral assembly appointments under the current legal framework.
At a September 2025 hearing, lawyers representing the petitioners stressed that passing the exams alone does not fulfill the statutory ordination requirement as currently defined, and that excluding women with significant religious expertise violates principles of equality.
The High Court has issued a conditional order requesting the respondents to explain why the amendment should not be interpreted as permitting women’s appointment or why the disputed provision should not be overturned. The government and other respondents are expected to submit their formal responses by mid-December. The court’s forthcoming decision could have significant implications for women’s roles within the highest levels of Israel’s religious leadership.