Israeli rabbinate

ITIM organization asks High Court to bar draft evaders from Rabbinate exam benefits

ITIM asked the High Court to bar men from using yeshiva study completed without regularized military status to qualify for Rabbinate certification.

The Supreme Court convenes to maintain the freeze on the law limiting enforcement against haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft dodgers, July 28, 2026.
A Tzohar kashrut sticker in a window

Chief Rabbinate Council disputes Tzohar kashrut approval hours after authorization

Three women who arrived in the morning to sit the Rabbinate exams finally do so at a four-hour delay, April 27, 2026

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

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'


Haredim take control of rabbinical judges appointments committee

Liberal activist groups expressed their concern about the change in the balance of power on the committee.

The dayanim of the new Supreme Rabbinical Court met with the chief of the court Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef

My Word: Fighter, rabbi and peacemaker

A tribute to Rabbi She’ar Yashuv Cohen.

RABBI SHE’AR YASHUV COHEN in his Haifa office in 2012.

Ahead of Tu Be’av, activist groups recommend halachic prenups

Signing is ‘the ultimate realization of true love,’ says Tzohar organization.

Jewish wedding (Illustrative)

Women to get greater representation on local religious councils says AG

According to statistics provided by the Hiddush religious pluralism lobbying group there are 49 women serving on 40 of the total 132 religious councils in the country.

The rabbis of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate

Supreme Rabbinical Court gets nine new members

Chief Rabbi Yosef: Appointments committee should listen to rabbis when choosing new rabbinical judges.

PRESIDENT REUVEN RIVLIN addresses the new members of the Supreme Rabbinical Court yesterday during their investiture at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

Examining appointments to Israel’s highest rabbinical court

After eight years of no appointments of rabbinic judges and the amendment of the law, the committee was tasked with appointing 24 regional judges and the entire complement of seven High Court judges.

The dayanim of the new Supreme Rabbinical Court met with the chief of the court Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef

Rabbi Lookstein cancels RNC appearance following student petition

Former students who had signed the petition urged Rabbi Lookstein to withdraw his participation stating that the future of his own legacy is at stake.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks as (L-R) his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner listen

Bayit Yehudi accused of ‘capitulating’ to Shas over rabbinical court judges

Mavoi Satum director Batya Kehana Dror said the organization would be submitting a petition to the High Court of Justice to prevent Elmaliach’s appointment.

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef at the Western Wall

Eisenkot stands by appointment of incoming IDF chief rabbi despite past comments

The rabbi said that the Torah’s “war” was directed against dealing with the issue of homosexuality as a banner for freedom and liberty.

Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim (left), nominated to become IDF chief rabbi, sits next to his predecessor, Bri

A challenge to far more than just one rabbi

That is a tragic lesson that could be so easily avoided if those in the Chief Rabbinate were to simply appreciate the danger of their ways and realize the impact of decisions such as these.

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein