Israel Supreme Court says women can take rabbinate exams

The highest court in Israel ruled this week that the state rabbinate may not bar women from taking rabbinic expertise exams, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post. The 15-judge panel issued the ruling on Monday, challenging what it characterized as sex discrimination within Israel. Just as sex discrimination is unacceptable for public services provided by the government, so sex discrimination should not be tolerated regarding the rabbinate exams, according to a report by Religion News Service, citing the court’s opinion.

How can a political court legally force changes in the Jewish faith? The court’s ruling does not require women to be ordained as rabbis, only that they be allowed to take licensing exams that test on Jewish law.

The rabbinate offers over a dozen exams in various areas of Jewish religious practice, including kosher slaughter and purity rituals, to business and agricultural law, according to Religion News Service. Students must complete a certain number of exams to be eligible for various rabbinic posts. For example, a regional rabbi must pass nine exams and be interviewed, while a city rabbi needs to pass nearly a dozen and be interviewed, according to The Jerusalem Post. Many liken the competition of rabbinic exams to achieving a university graduate degree that can carry expectations for salary and other job benefits.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on the Israeli Supreme Court ruling not to exempt Ultra-Orthodox Jews from the military draft.