Chief Rabbinate of Israel
Israeli-media coverage mentioning Chief Rabbinate of Israel, translated into English and compared across sources. 28 recent stories.
Chief Rabbi Warns of Kashrut Risks in Popular Whiskeys
Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber published a halachic warning on imported whiskey and other spirits. He said bourbon is relatively safer, while Scotch, Irish, and especially Canadian w…
Deal advances as Knesset to debate Basic Law on Torah study next week
The Knesset is set to begin next week on a new Basic Law that would make Torah study a fundamental state value. The same deal between Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox parties also…
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman Offers Weekly Message on Parashat Balak
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman appears in Kikar HaShabbat’s weekly “Migdalor LeChayim” segment with a message on Parashat Balak. The item identifies him as a member of the Chief Ra…
First Woman Passes Chief Rabbinate Certification Exam
A woman has passed a Chief Rabbinate certification exam for the first time in Israel, after a High Court ruling opened the exams to women. She still needs to pass five more exams…
Rabbi Yigal Cohen Delivers Daily Spiritual Encouragement from "Chovot HaLevavot"
Kikar HaShabbat published a short daily encouragement segment with Rabbi Yigal Cohen. The clip draws on "Chovot HaLevavot" and is presented as a brief, current spiritual message.
Netanyahu Pushes Ultra-Orthodox Deal Amid Protests and Judicial Overhaul
Netanyahu is advancing a deal with ultra-Orthodox parties while the coalition promotes bills on Torah study, kosher certification and draft evaders. At the same time, the governme…
Leading Religious-Zionist Rabbis Back New Kashrut Bill
Senior Religious-Zionist rabbis issued a public letter backing a new kashrut bill. They said it would strengthen the Chief Rabbinate, standardize kosher supervision, and called on…
European Jewish leaders warn Belgian circumcision case could reshape minority rights
The European Jewish Association held an emergency conference in Brussels over Belgian legal action against circumcisers, warning it could set a Europe-wide precedent against minor…
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu urges swift repeal of kosher certification reform
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu wrote to MK Ohad Tal backing the effort to cancel Israel’s kosher certification reform. He warned that the reform enabled kashrut fraud, urged the bill’s quic…
Rabbinical exam candidates wait more than a year and a half for grades amid scoring crisis
Rabbinical ordination candidates have been waiting more than 18 months for exam grades because of a severe backlog in grading at the Chief Rabbinate. Although a solution was propo…
Daily 60-Second Encouragement with Rabbi Yigal Cohen
Kikar HaShabbat is featuring a daily 60-second faith clip with Rabbi Yigal Cohen. The short segment draws on Chovot HaLevavot and is presented as a brief spiritual encouragement v…
Chief Rabbinate Streamlines Marriage Officiant Certification Process
The Chief Rabbinate in Israel has updated the certification process for rabbis who officiate weddings, adding an online application system and clearer procedures. The criteria the…
Rabbi-led local oversight, not competition, is the key to good kashrut, Koshrot official says
An article by Koshrot’s head of halakhic affairs says kashrut competition has often created commercial and opaque systems. It cites Afula’s local rabbinate as proof that professio…
Chief of Tzohar Kashrut Says New Bill Would Revive Failed Centralized System
Tzohar kashrut chief Emanuel Gadag warns that a bill to cancel Israel’s kashrut reform would restore a failed centralized model. He calls for a strong Chief Rabbinate, strict regu…
Rabbi Yigal Cohen’s Daily 60-Second Lesson Warns Against Seeking Honor
Kikar HaShabbat published a 60-second religious encouragement clip with Rabbi Yigal Cohen. The lesson, drawn from Chovot HaLevavot, warns that acting for honor ultimately causes l…
Daily Rabbi Yigal Cohen clip asks how parents should react when a child says no
Kikar HaShabbat published a short “60-second inspiration” video featuring Rabbi Yigal Cohen. The clip addresses how parents should respond when a child says “no,” drawing on Chovo…
Chief Rabbinate issues new call for selection committees after High Court ruling
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel issued a new call for candidates after a High Court ruling affected future rabbinic appointments. The new process restarts selection of representativ…
Emergency Kashrut Meeting Follows Haredi Rabbi’s Rejection of Kosher Wine Bottle
The Edah HaChareidis kashrut committee held an emergency meeting after a Dushinsky rebbe refused a Segal grape-juice bottle marked as produced under the Chief Rabbinate’s היתר מכי…
Chief Rabbinate releases exam results in record time of about six weeks
The Israeli Chief Rabbinate published results from part of its May exam session in 36 working days, well before its 90-day obligation. More than 3,800 candidates took the exams, a…
Chief Rabbinate Moves to Block Women From Rabbinic Exams, Defying High Court
Israel's Chief Rabbinate is pushing a new rule intended to block women from rabbinic exams, despite opposition from its own legal advisers and a prior High Court ruling. Chief Rab…
Chief Sephardi Rabbi blasts Supreme Court ruling on women’s rabbinic certification
Chief Sephardi Rabbi David Yosef condemned a High Court ruling requiring the Chief Rabbinate to allow women rabbinic certification. He said women will not receive certificates whi…
Rabbinate CEO Yehuda Cohen to Leave Post Early
Yehuda Cohen, director general of Israel's Chief Rabbinate, has agreed with the Civil Service Commission to leave his post early, about a month from now. His departure comes after…
Rabbi Yigal Cohen Delivers Daily 60-Second Inspiration Clip
Kikar HaShabbat published a daily 60-second inspirational segment with Rabbi Yigal Cohen. The clip draws on Hovot HaLevavot and is presented as a short, timely lesson for viewers.
Rabbi Yishai Eliahu Halleli Unanimously Elected as Emmanuel's Town Rabbi
Rabbi Yishai Eliahu Halleli was unanimously elected on Monday as Emmanuel's local town rabbi. The Religious Services Ministry said the appointment is part of its broader effort to…
Zurba M’Rabanan Launches Holiday Halacha Course Ahead of Chief Rabbinate Exams
Zurba M’Rabanan is opening an 18-month holiday halacha course in Givat Shmuel with online and in-person options. The program is designed to prepare students for Chief Rabbinate of…
Rabbi Yigal Cohen’s Daily Lesson Reflects on Giving Money to a Woman
Kikar HaShabbat promoted a 60-second daily inspirational video featuring Rabbi Yigal Cohen. The segment draws on Chovot HaLevavot and addresses what one should think when giving m…
Eight-Day-Old Infant Dies After Circumcision at Hadassah Ein Kerem
An eight-day-old baby died Saturday at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem after a circumcision, and police opened an investigation. The report also recalls a previous March…
Religious Services Ministry Warns Privatized Kashrut Model Created Shell Companies and Weak Oversight
Israel’s Religious Services Ministry says the previous kashrut privatization model produced shell companies, weak oversight, and lower standards. A new 2026 law seeks to restore l…