Chief rabbinate of israel

Parashat Vayechi: Keeping Israel Jewish – without coercion

We should value democracy, safeguard it within Israeli society, and participate actively wherever we reside, cherishing the liberties and dignity it secures.

EXPRESSING SUPPORT for separation of church and state.
DESPITE BEING fully recognized by the Chief Rabbinate, many Orthodox converts are living in legal and social limbo, denied citizenship, as they face systemic bureaucracy and discrimination at the Interior Ministry. Here, women pray at the Western Wall.

Recognized by the rabbinate, Orthodox converts trapped in legal limbo over Israeli citizenship

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'

 Women studying at Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies in Jerusalem.

A small and insufficient victory: Female Torah scholars - opinion


Israel's Chief Rabbinate needs the courage to reform - opinion

Seventy years of religious repression, civil marriage and intermarriage have brought many people of Jewish descent to Israel who are not halachically Jewish.

 RELIGIOUS SERVICES Minister Matan Kahana sits next to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during a session in the Knesset plenum earlier this month.

Save the rabbinate from Israel and Israelis from the rabbinate - opinion

There has never been a central, monopolist authority over conversions (or any other religious function) in Jewish history, nor does it exist in the present outside of Israel.

 ASHKENAZI CHIEF Rabbi David Lau.

Chief Rabbi Lau visits shiva of alleged rapist Chaim Walder

Lau was photographed in a tent that was set up outside the Walder home for the shiva. 

 CHIEF ASHKENAZI Rabbi David Lau.

The rabbinate must be reformed to be more welcoming - editorial

The rabbinate has become a restricted club of only one sector of Israeli society, and attempts to diversify it are met with strong opposition.

Chief rabbis gathered to discuss reforms to the conversion and kashrut system

Religious Services Minister plans law to exempt rabbis from political comments restrictions

Minister Matan Kahana's comments were criticized since municipal chief rabbis are in effect never subject to disciplinary procedures despite gross violations of the regulations.

Chief rabbis gathered to discuss reforms to the conversion and kashrut system

Religious Services Min. proposes new body to run women's halacha exams

Organizations advocating for state-recognized halacha qualifications for women insist that ministry immediately open examinations.

 RELIGIOUS JEWISH women praying in Jerusalem.

Kashrut ‘revolution’ legislation passes into law

The legislation abolishes the monopoly of the Chief Rabbinate over kashrut supervision.

Kashrut certificate in Jerusalem, July 21, 2021.

Kashrut reform can free Israel from rabbinate's grip - editorial

“We are breaking the monopoly of the rabbinate,” committee chairwoman MK Yulia Malinovsky said. “What pains them is that they are losing the power to decide for all of us.”

Kashrut certificate in Jerusalem, July 21, 2021.

Majority of religious-Zionists oppose gov't kashrut reforms - poll

The Knesset committee has begun its deliberations on government kashrut reforms.

A Tzohar kashrut sticker in a window

Reforms must keep our food kosher - opinion

The issue of kashrut certification has been the center of heated debate for the last several months, with all sorts of accusations and claims of bullying and blackmail. 

 A WOMAN walks past a Jerusalem eatery with a Tzohar kashrut certificate.