In July, the High Court of Justice ruled that women must be allowed to take rabbinical certification exams. The ruling followed a petition filed by the Rackman Center, Itim, Kolech, and individual petitioners Avital Engelberg, Shlomit Flint, Sara Segal-Katz, Rachel Keren, Michelle Cohen Farber, and Shlomit Piamenta.
Despite the ruling, the Rabbinate initially refused to open exam registration. They blocked both men and women. This appeared to be an attempt to delay the court’s decision. The Rabbinate also requested another hearing on the matter.
Last week, Justice Amit rejected the Rabbinate’s request. He said:
“The request before me, and the proposal presented in it regarding the formulation of an alternative outline, constitute an attempt to circumvent an explicit judicial determination.”
It is now time for the Rabbinate to implement the original ruling. Women must be allowed to take their halacha exams. They should assume an equal role in leading religious life in Israel. The Rackman Center calls for an end to discrimination and exclusion in religious leadership.
