US EditionSupreme Court Rules: Women Can Take Rabbinical Examinations, Receive Benefits
ISRAEL, JUL 14 – The ruling ends gender discrimination in rabbinical exams, granting women access to certification linked to financial and social benefits, after a six-year legal battle, court said.
- On July 14, 2025, Israel’s Supreme Court mandated that the Chief Rabbinate open its rabbinical examination process to female candidates alongside male participants.
- This ruling arose from a 2019 petition by six female Torah scholars seeking equal access to the exams, which confer financial benefits and professional status.
- The exams cover Jewish law topics like kosher slaughter and ritual purity, and passing them grants economic benefits though ordination of women is not mandated.
- Justice Noam Solberg wrote that barring women from these exams is prohibited discrimination without sufficient justification, marking a significant legal milestone.
- The decision could create institutional opportunities for women, but tensions remain as the Chief Rabbinate debates how to implement the ruling before upcoming exams.
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11 Articles
Israeli supreme court says rabbinate must offer tests to women
(RNS) — Israel’s state rabbinate must open up its rabbinic expertise exams to women, Israel’s supreme court said on Monday (July 14) in a ruling hailed by advocates for pluralism and egalitarianism in the Jewish state’s religious institutions. “Discrimination between women and men regarding eligibility to take the Chief Rabbinate exams is unacceptable, just as discrimination between women and men regarding eligibility to enjoy any other service…
Israel's top court rules women can take rabbinical certification exam
The court also ruled that the certificate given to women who pass the rabbinnical exam will have the value equivalent to an academic degree and entitle them to the same salary increments, employment benefits, and competitive job openings
Supreme Court Rules: Women Can Take Rabbinical Examinations, Receive Benefits
JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg issued a landmark ruling on Monday, requiring the Chief Rabbinate to allow women to take the rabbinical exams, stating clearly:”Discrimination is prohibited.” In order to understand the background behind the Supreme Court decision, it is important to note that the rabbinical examinations have two goals: One is […]
Chief Rabbinate must allow women to take rabbinical tests, High Court rules
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel will be required to open its rabbinical tests to women, the High Court of Justice ruled on Monday. The landmark ruling stops short of stating that women are entitled to be ordained as rabbis. However, it is being viewed as a significant step forward in advancing the status of female […] The post Chief Rabbinate must allow women to take rabbinical tests, High Court rules appeared first on J-Wire.
In win for Modern Orthodoxy, Israeli Supreme Court rules women can take state rabbinic exams
Modern Orthodoxy scored a rare victory in Israel on Monday as the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the Chief Rabbinate must allow women to take rabbinic exams alongside men, ending a six-year legal saga. The ruling does not mean that the Chief Rabbinate will begin recognizing female rabbis, but they will be permitted to receive the same credentials for the purposes of employment. “We just wanted equal. Whatever the men get [from the exams, which…
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