Supreme Court Reviews Key Laws on Rabbinical Courts and Chief Rabbinate

Three legislative arrangements concerning rabbinical courts and the Chief Rabbinate, passed by the outgoing Knesset, are currently under review by the Supreme Court (Baggatz). These laws address child support, consensual arbitration, and the composition of the assembly that elects the Chief Rabbis and the Rabbinical Council. While the laws have not been canceled, final decisions on the petitions are pending. The Yachin Research Center, which helped formulate these laws, asserts that the Knesset explicitly responded to issues raised in previous court rulings.

One significant law, passed in March 2026, permits rabbinical and Sharia courts to act as arbitrators in civil disputes if parties agree in writing, provided certain conditions and exceptions are met. This law was enacted about twenty years after a ruling stated rabbinical courts lacked the authority for such arbitration without specific legislation. Supporters view this as enabling those who wish to use religious courts for arbitration, while opponents have petitioned the Supreme Court, leading to a conditional order being issued. The state is required to submit its response by January 3, 2027.

Another arrangement, a two-year temporary order approved in November 2025, reaffirms the authority of rabbinical courts to handle child support claims when they are linked to a divorce petition. This amendment followed a Supreme Court decision that had limited this authority. Proponents argue it allows for consolidating divorce-related matters in a single venue, avoiding parallel proceedings. Critics, however, contend that the law can compel a parent to litigate in rabbinical court without their consent. The Supreme Court issued a conditional order on this petition on November 1, with responses due by January 3, 2027.

The third arrangement pertains to the election assembly for the Chief Rabbinate, which comprises 80 rabbis and 70 public representatives. The amendment established qualification criteria for the ten rabbis who appoint the Chief Rabbis to this assembly and mandated that at least 30 women be included among the public representatives. Supporters see this as regulating rabbinical representation while expanding female participation. Petitioners argue that the qualification criteria hinder women's inclusion in the rabbinical appointment process and violate equality principles. A conditional order was also issued for this petition in September.

The Yachin Research Center views these legal challenges as a fundamental dispute over the relationship between the legislature and the judiciary, arguing that the Knesset addressed prior judicial concerns and its decisions should be given weight. The center also emphasizes that these cases touch upon the status of rabbinical courts and the Chief Rabbinate as institutions reflecting the state's Jewish identity. The Yachin Research Center was also involved in educational reforms led by Minister Yoav Kisch and in promoting legislation in the current Knesset.