At least one woman will serve on every subcommittee to appoint judges to rabbinical courts, according to an ordinance signed by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday.Livni also signed an ordinance allowing female rabbinical court advocates to serve on the subcommittees, in addition to the committee chairman, MKs and Bar Association representatives.“This is another step toward total equality for women, which is very important in religion, since it deals with so many areas of life,” Livni said.In June, the Knesset passed a law requiring that at least one of the two government representatives, MKs and Bar Association representatives on the Committee to Appoint Rabbinical Court Judges be female and that a rabbinical court advocate be added to the panel. Livni’s decision extends the practice to subcommittees.“Women are more than half of the population, and their voices ought to be heard clearly on ever topic,” Livni said.“Integrating women in these committees, which deal with different areas of our lives and hold great power and influence, is another step in the fight for women’s equality in general and more specifically for their right to take part in choosing public officials.”
