Chief Rabbinate of Israel opens registration for rabbinical tests to women

A man with an Israeli flag in the rabbinate building. Photo: Radio Liberty

On February 10, 2026, the religious authorities of Israel announced the opening of registration for its next round of rabbinical tests, and for the first time, women will be allowed to register and take the tests, reports The Times of Israel.

The tests cover key sections of halakha (Jewish law) and are necessary for obtaining official certificates. Candidates are required to pass at least six subjects, and the examinations are traditionally held three times a year. The rabbinate clarified that the innovation concerns admission to examinations, not a change in the status of women in the Orthodox system.

The decision followed a ruling by the Supreme Court of Israel, which previously recognized discrimination in providing access to certification as inadmissible. In addition to serving as a path to being certified as a rabbi in Israel, the certificates also offer social and financial benefits (neither the petitioners nor the court asked for women to be recognized as rabbis).

Simultaneously, the Rabbinate Council announced the creation of a special committee to review criteria and prepare a reform of the examination procedure. In a broader context, the discussion about the role of women in religious leadership has continued for decades: in Reform and Conservative Judaism, women have received rabbinical status since the 20th century, while in the Orthodox tradition such practice remains a subject of debate.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the President of Israel called for the protection of Christian communities and holy sites of the Holy Land.

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