Rabbinical court

Once, Jews defended themselves to survive. Now this reflects defeat - opinion

Israelis and Jews still react to attacks as though they were medieval defendants standing before hostile judges. No need.

A medieval court of law.
 A WOMAN seeking divorce in a ‘beit din’ was the sole female in the room until the advent of ‘toanot.’ (Illustrative)

Woman receives Jewish divorce after three-year struggle following financial pressure on husband

Newly elected Tel Aviv-Jaffa Chief Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, April 26, 2026.

Shas-backed Zevadia Cohen elected Tel Aviv chief rabbi after High Court delays, political battle

Activists protest against a bill that would give more authorities to the rabbinical courts outside the Rabbinical Court of Tel Aviv, December 11, 2024; illustrative.

Petition to High Court seeks to strike down new rabbinical courts arbitration law


Rabbinical Court refuses to accept ruling freeing 20-year Agunah

An independent court ruled to annul the marriage, but the rabbinical court has instead opened proceedings against the imprisoned husband.

Zvia Gordestski (left) holding the rabbinical court document freeing her from her marriage, alongside Center for Women’s Justice attorney Nitzan Caspi-Shiloni

Father of divorce refuser fined 5,000 shekels a day

The Tel Aviv rabbinical court ruled nearly five years ago that the man was obligated to grant a divorce, but he ignored the ruling.

Silhouette of a woman [file]

First woman ever appointed as legal advisor to rabbinical courts

Attorney Shira Ben-Eli was the woman selected, and it appears that she will work in a central office as an advisor for all the rabbinical courts.

THE RABBINICAL COURT of Tel Aviv

Private court annuls marriage of long-term ‘agunah’

In cases where a man refuses to grant a divorce for an extended period of time, voiding the marriage on the basis of an invalid witness is an effective tool in freeing the agunah, or chained woman.

Oshrat Ben-Haim (center) stands before the rabbis of the independent rabbinical court alongside her rabbinical court representative and Mavoi Satum director Attorney Batya Kehana-Dror

Law for rabbinical courts to hear non-Israeli divorce cases approved

The law is seen as controversial since it expands the jurisdiction of the state rabbinical courts to non-citizens on the highly charged issue of divorce refusal.

File photo: Divorce.

Groundbreaking ruling in rabbinical court frees 23-year 'chained woman'

Annulment of Zvia Gordestski’s marriage could and should pave the way for private rabbinical courts for divorce, says Center for Women’s Justice.

Zvia Gordestski (left) holding the rabbinical court document freeing her from her marriage, alongside Center for Women’s Justice attorney Nitzan Caspi-Shiloni

Rabbinical court judges to get female legal advisers

This is the highest position ever achieved by a woman in Israel’s rabbinical courts.

THE RABBINICAL court in Tel Aviv

Walking the desert... to help unchain women

"Chained women" and allies from across Israel gather for a hike for support and sisterhood.

Agunot and former agunot during Yad L’Isha’s  first-annual Eshet Hamidbar (Woman of the Desert) 22-kilometer walk

Would-be converts must marry or leave partners, Knesset committee told

The practice has been called "coercive and unfair."

Tania Beider in 2018

Haredi MKs advance legislation to expand rabbinical courts' jurisdiction

Gafni argues that the bill is a matter of multiculturalism and designed to allow religious Jews the right to chose their legal forum.

Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of the United Torah Judaism party sits with other ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government during a Knesset session, November 23