Chief rabbinate of israel

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.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
The Supreme Court convenes to maintain the freeze on the law limiting enforcement against haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft dodgers, July 28, 2026.
KASHRUT CERTIFICATION at a Jerusalem eatery – will the rabbinate’s monopoly be broken?

Knesset repeals 2021 kashrut reform, restores Rabbinate control over certification

Under the law, official kashrut certificates may be issued by the Chief Rabbinate Council, authorized local rabbis, and, within the IDF, the Military Rabbinate.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
A WOMAN walks past a Jerusalem eatery with a Tzohar kashrut certificate.

Tzohar asks High Court to reject state's bid to void kashrut license

Tzohar warned that revoking its kashrut license could affect hundreds of food businesses that have already relied on the authorization.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
A Tzohar kashrut sticker in a window

High Court sets Tuesday deadline in Tzohar kashrut-license dispute

Tzohar’s kashrut division head told The Jerusalem Post that its standards follow the Chief Rabbinate's procedures and that it would continue operating under the license it received.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN

High Court rules: Women can be on committee to select Chief Rabbi

The impact of the decision is yet to be seen: it does not mandate, but merely permits, the inclusion of women to be considered for the committee that selects Chief Rabbis and Chief Rabbinate Council.

JANUARY 14, 2024ByLEON KRAIEM
A WOMAN seeking divorce in a ‘beit din’ was the sole female in the room until the advent of ‘toanot.’ (Illustrative)

This is why Israel plans to bury hundreds of cars, with ashes and blood stains

To preserve the sanctity of those murdered by Hamas, for the first time since the establishment of the state, they decided to bury the vehicles.

NOVEMBER 22, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
Rabbi Yaakov Rose of ZAKA Tel Aviv examining the cars with remains in southern Israel

Israelis killed on October 7 denied Jewish burials due to halachic status

The incidents came to light on Monday during a Knesset discussion about expediting the conversion process for those currently serving in the IDF.

NOVEMBER 13, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Alina Falahati, 21, who was murdered on October 7 and buried 'outside the fence' due to her halachic status (she had not completed the conversion process to Judaism.)

'Wombs for rent': Opposition MK decries the lack of female reps on religious councils

Biton made the comments during a verbal scuffle between Labor Party MK Gilad Kariv and ultra-Orthodox coalition members.

JUNE 28, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
MK Dvora Biton taken out by Knesset guards during a a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting on the planned judicial reform, at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on June 25, 2023

Shas, Otzma Yehudit face off over controversial Chief Rabbinate bills

Shas controls both offices that have the most influence on religious services – the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Interior Ministry.

JUNE 27, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security and head of the Otzma Yehudit political party gives a press statement during a party meeting in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, May 3, 2023.

High Court overturns Chief Rabbinate ban on Tzohar kashrut for imports

Some two years ago, the Chief Rabbinate's imports committee denied an initial Tzohar request to allow its certification to apply for imported goods.

JUNE 21, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A WOMAN walks past a Jerusalem eatery with a Tzohar kashrut certificate.

Chief Rabbinate election delay bill passes first reading

According to Israeli law, the chief rabbis serve for 10 years, and religious councils for five years.

JUNE 19, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
ASHKENAZI CHIEF Rabbi David Lau and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef at an event in Jerusalem earlier this year. Who is lining up to replace them?

'Being a Nation State': Evolution of Israel's Jewish, democratic balance - review

Tensions have moved along two interrelated axes in Israeli society: between Jewishness as a national identity and democracy; and Judaism as a religion and democracy.

JUNE 3, 2023ByGLENN C. ALTSCHULER
A MARCH from Ramat Gan to Bnei Brak in protest of the haredi community’s monetary demands for the upcoming budget, last month.

Editor's Notes: Love the convert

As Jews in Israel and around the world read the Book of Ruth during the holiday of Shavuot, it is worth asking how beloved converts truly are today.

MAY 24, 2023ByAVI MAYER
THEN-JEWISH AGENCY CHAIRMAN Natan Sharansky speaks at a protest held outside the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, in 2016. The signs read ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ and ‘Judaism without coercion.’

Diaspora Rabbis: Change age limit for candidates for Chief Rabbi

Favored Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi candidate unable to compete due to being over the age limit, the government-proposed alternative is less popular.

MAY 11, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
THE HEADQUARTERS of the Chief Rabbinate in Jerusalem, as seen here in 2013.