Israeli Finance Ministry Advances Closure of Safed Rabbinical Court Despite Opposition

The Israeli Finance Ministry is moving forward with plans to close the Rabbinical Court in Safed, which serves hundreds of thousands of residents in the Galilee and Golan regions. The closure is expected to take place in October, after the Jewish holidays. This decision will require northern residents to travel to Tiberias for matters such as divorce and inheritance.

Despite opposition, including a recent visit by Israel's Chief Rabbi David Yosef who promised court employees the facility would remain open, the closure is still being promoted. Employees from the Enforcement and Collection Authority have reportedly visited the building, which was promised to them for office use.

Several rabbis have appealed to the Chief Rabbi in a letter emphasizing the court's 500-year continuous operation and questioning where litigants from eastern Galilee and the Galilee Panhandle will turn if it closes. The Rabbinical Courts Administration stated it is doing everything possible to prevent the closure and that the matter is currently under discussion with the Government Housing Manager.

The Finance Ministry, responsible for public housing management, said the move is in response to a request from the Rabbinical Courts to consolidate the Safed and Tiberias courts for economic and operational efficiency. This consolidation effort is driving the planned closure of the Safed court.