Israeli Supreme Court Orders Rabbinate to Open Exams to Women
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The Israeli Supreme Court has ordered the state to open official rabbinic exams to women, a role previously reserved for men. Following the ruling, a group of three Orthodox women has already taken the first of these tests. The Chief Rabbinate has delayed a second scheduled exam, but the court's decision creates a path for women to qualify for state-funded religious service jobs.
Facts First
- The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by advocacy group ITIM, ordering rabbinic exams be opened to women.
- Three Orthodox women have taken the first rabbinic test, a nearly six-hour exam on Jewish laws of mourning.
- Passing the exams may qualify women for public servant jobs that run state-funded religious services in Israel.
- The Chief Rabbinate delayed a second scheduled exam by several months without explanation after initially refusing to administer any exams for over half a year.
- The court ordered religious authorities to pay ITIM approximately $5,000 to cover court fees.
What Happened
The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in favor of a lawsuit from the Jewish advocacy group ITIM (Passages), ordering the state to open official rabbinic exams to women. In April, a group of three Orthodox women, including Dr. Ruth Agiv, took the first of these exams, which lasted nearly six hours and tested knowledge of Jewish religious laws of mourning. Following the ruling, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel refused to administer exams to anyone for more than half a year. A second test scheduled for July has been delayed by several months without explanation.
Why this Matters to You
If you rely on or interact with state-funded religious services in Israel, the professionals administering those services may eventually include qualified women. This change could broaden the perspectives and leadership available within your community's religious institutions. For women with advanced religious studies, this ruling opens a formal career path in public service that was previously legally inaccessible.
What's Next
The Chief Rabbinate is expected to reschedule the delayed second rabbinic exam, though a new date has not been set. The ongoing legal pressure from the Supreme Court ruling may compel the religious authorities to continue administering the exams to women. Successful completion of the exam series could lead to women being appointed to official religious service roles, though integration into the traditionally male-dominated system may face further challenges.