Chief Rabbinate issues new call for selection committees after High Court ruling

Following a High Court of Justice ruling, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel on Thursday published a new call for applications from incumbent rabbis who want to serve as representatives of the Chief Rabbinate Council on the examination committees that choose regional rabbis.

The move comes after the court said flaws found in the appointment procedures challenged in petitions must also apply to future appointments. As a result, the process for selecting representatives has been reopened in several regional councils across the country.

Under the new notice, in a regional council that has a religious council, only a regional rabbi serving in another regional council may apply, provided he holds an approved post under the Ministry of Religious Services. In a regional council without a religious council, either a regional rabbi or a settlement rabbi may apply, as long as he also serves in an approved Ministry of Religious Services position.

The Rabbinate also said each candidate must attach written support from at least one member of the Chief Rabbinate Council. That endorsement is meant to show that a sitting council member backs the candidacy. The Rabbinate said the process will select the Council’s representatives for the committees that interview and choose regional rabbis in the various councils.