Chief Sephardi Rabbi blasts Supreme Court ruling on women’s rabbinic certification

After the High Court of Justice ruled that the Chief Rabbinate must allow women to be certified as rabbis, Chief Sephardi Rabbi David Yosef sharply attacked both the court and women seeking recognition. Yosef said, "As long as I am in this system, women will not receive certificates." He also asked, "The very fact that women turn to the secular court to force the Rabbinate, so what do you want from us?"

Yosef added, "If you recognize the court, get a rabbinic certificate from the court," and promised, "Soon everyone will know and understand that we will take actions they will not accept, it will not help them." His comments came after the High Court decision requiring the Rabbinate to enable women to become certified as rabbis.

In response, rabbis are working to insert a clause that would contradict the High Court’s ruling and block the certification exams that are supposed to be opened under the order. The dispute has now created a conflict between the Rabbinate’s legal adviser and the rabbis themselves.