Israeli Rabbinical Court Allows Divorced Mother to Host Priesthood Partner at Home

The Jerusalem Rabbinical High Court overturned a previous regional court order that prohibited a divorced mother from allowing her priesthood partner to stay overnight at her home. The couple had been married for about ten years before divorcing two years ago. The father, involved in child custody proceedings, petitioned the regional rabbinical court to stop the mother from hosting her new partner, citing religious concerns since he is a kohen (priest). The regional court sided with the father, ruling that the children’s religious education required maintaining a lifestyle at home consistent with their schooling, which forbids hosting an unrelated man overnight.

The mother, represented by the Rakman Center for the Advancement of Women’s Status at Bar-Ilan University, appealed to the Rabbinical High Court. After reviewing the case and hearing both sides, the high court decisively revoked the restrictive order, stating there was no justification for it. However, the court reminded both parents of their duty to avoid harming the children’s educational upbringing.

The Rakman Center praised the high court’s decision, emphasizing that the initial order lacked proper examination of the children’s welfare and was beyond the court’s authority. The center highlighted that the ruling reflects existing law and opposes indefinite religiously based exclusion orders. The case also noted that the mother and her partner have an ongoing marriage permit application pending in the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court.