High Court determines women can serve as head of rabbinical court
The High Court of Justice determined Wednesday that a woman can head a rabbinical court—providing she meets certain criteria.
The decision noted the head of a rabbinical court must be: a resident of Israel; hold a rabbinical advocate license, or be a lawyer with a graduate degree in Hebrew law or Talmud (with preference to an attorney who is also a rabbinical advocate); has at least seven years of experience appearing at rabbinical courts; is worthy of serving as the head of the rabbinical court based on character and lifestyle.
"It is understood, to remove any doubt, that these terms apply both to females and males," the court noted.
The court noted its ruling is a result of its interpertation of article 13 of the Dayanim Law.
