Israel Was Close to Appointing Ultra-Orthodox Judge to Supreme Court

The Israeli judicial system was once very close to appointing an ultra-Orthodox judge to the Supreme Court, according to Yosef Weitzman, Deputy Head of the Israel Bar Association. He revealed this in light of the recent appointment of Benjamin (Beni) Porat, a Chabad jurist, as a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court in California.

Weitzman stated that approximately six years ago, during Ayelet Shaked's tenure as Justice Minister, an initiative was underway to appoint an ultra-Orthodox judge to Israel's Supreme Court. Shaked personally approached Weitzman with the mission, saying, "I have a mission, there must be an ultra-Orthodox judge in the Supreme Court." Weitzman then began searching for suitable candidates.

The initiative also received enthusiastic support from the then-President of the Supreme Court, Miriam Naor, who expressed strong interest. Weitzman, working with Dr. Chaim Zicherman, identified a highly qualified ultra-Orthodox candidate. However, at the last moment, the candidate requested to remain in his current position and declined the Supreme Court appointment, with his family also advising against it. Weitzman expressed regret, noting it would have been a historic event.

Since that missed opportunity, efforts to find suitable candidates have continued, though Weitzman notes the primary obstacle is not systemic opposition but rather the significant gap and disconnect between the secular and ultra-Orthodox sectors. He believes that appointing ultra-Orthodox judges, first to district courts and then to the Supreme Court, would foster greater trust in the judicial system.

Weitzman cited the appointment of Judge Avner Yifrah to the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court as an example of positive change, highlighting how exposure to the ultra-Orthodox community through such appointments can alter perceptions and build trust. He also referenced discussions with the late top lawyer Dr. Yaakov Vinerot, who, despite his own halachic considerations, supported the idea of having ultra-Orthodox judges, emphasizing it as a public mission that builds trust within the courts and the broader public.