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Chief Rabbinate of Israel

Illustrative: A man outside the Chief Rabbinate headquarters in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
July 15, 2026, 8:09 am
Knesset passes law restoring Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly over kosher certification
Coalition passes raft of contentious laws aimed at appeasing Haredi parties, which say their ‘rift’ with Netanyahu is over
By ToI Staff and Zev Stub
July 7, 2026, 1:14 pm
Daily Briefing July 7 – Will the Chief Rabbinate keep its monopoly on kosher certification?
Jewish world and real estate reporter Zev Stub on what’s new at the Maccabiah, a challenge to the Rabbinate, and what the strong shekel means for the real estate market
By Gabriella Jacobs and Zev Stub
Customers sitting at Cafe Kadosh in Jerusalem, May 2020. The restaurant is one of hundreds in Israel that has opted for kosher certification outside the auspices of Israel's Chief Rabbinate. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 2, 2026, 11:01 pm
Rabbinate approves — then disputes — alternative Tzohar kosher certification in landmark ruling
After years of legal and political battles, liberal group claims to have broken the Chief Rabbinate’s longstanding monopoly over kosher certification — if it’s not overturned
By Zev Stub
Female candidates take a rabbinical test administered by the Chief Rabbinate at the Religious Services Ministry in Jerusalem on April 27, 2026. (Chief Rabbinate)
May 25, 2026, 5:12 pm
Chief Rabbinate scraps session of rabbinical tests required to be open to women
Modern Orthodox rabbi says decision ‘sends a deeply troubling message’; Rabbinate spokesperson claims test will be administered in the fall
By Rossella Tercatin
Female candidates take a rabbinical test administered by the Chief Rabbinate at the Religious Services Ministry in Jerusalem on April 27, 2026. (Chief Rabbinate)
April 27, 2026, 9:02 pm
3 women take Chief Rabbinate exam for first time in history, after delay ended by court order
Women take test on laws of mourning in separate location from men thanks to emergency injunction, following years of legal battles to sit for rabbinical exams
By Rossella Tercatin
Eyal Tzionov, a TikTok personality who dresses up as the Sephardic chief rabbi, sits in the audience of Israel's annual Independence Day torch-lighting on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, on April 21, 2026. (Screenshot/YouTube)
April 22, 2026, 4:16 pm
TikToker dressed as chief rabbi stirs confusion at Independence event
Self-styled messiah Eyal Tzionov has ascended Temple Mount and attended rally in support of Ben Gvir clad in Sephardic chief rabbi’s iconic robe and turban, baffling authorities
By ToI Staff
Police clash with Israelis during a protest against the current Israeli government and the ongoing war with Iran, at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, April 4, 2026. (Flash90)
April 5, 2026, 2:22 am
Cops violently disperse protesters at Tel Aviv anti-war rally, after court raised attendance cap
Detained activists say police stopped them from reaching shelter amid missile attack; chief rabbi declares court ‘enemy of Judaism’ after permissive ruling is issued on Shabbat
By Charlie Summers and Sam Sokol
Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz (center) one of the female Torah scholars who has petitioned the High Court of Justice to be allowed to take the rabbinical tests administered by the Chief Rabbinate. (Ayelet Landau/Gluya Magazine)
February 11, 2026, 10:29 pm
Following years of legal battles, Chief Rabbinate opens rabbinical tests to women
Petitioners who first asked the High Court of Justice to intervene in 2019 hail the move, but the Rabbinate also announces it will conduct a comprehensive reform of the system
By Rossella Tercatin
The dairy counter in a Jerusalem supermarket offering the cow-free New Milk by tech company Remilk among regular dairy options and other milk substitutes on January 29, 2026. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
February 3, 2026, 4:30 pm
New ‘no-animal’ milk has kosher foodies salivating. Here’s why you can have it with your steak
Cow-free beverage made from lab-engineered dairy protein is now sold in supermarkets across Israel. At least one restaurateur is setting his table for old-fashioned Southern fried chicken
By Rossella Tercatin
At Amit Amital School in Netanya, Isabella Vinci taught English as part of a Masa program, November 2022. (Courtesy via JTA)
October 25, 2025, 6:48 am
Highlighting Diaspora rift, Israel rejects US immigration applicant over Zoom-era conversion
Critics say the rebuffing of Isabella Vinci, who spent Shabbats with an Orthodox host family and taught English in an Israeli public school, defies a 2005 High Court ruling
By Asaf Elia-Shalev
Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef (right) and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber (left), with Israel's President Isaac Herzog during their swearing-in ceremony at the President Residence in Jerusalem, on November 4, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 21, 2025, 5:51 pm
Chief Rabbinate says it’s willing to let women take some rabbinical tests
After High Court of Justice ruled it must open its exams to women, state rabbinical body asks court to hold another hearing and postpone implementation of its original ruling
By Rossella Tercatin
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber in his office in Jerusalem on July 22, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
August 1, 2025, 4:15 pm
In a polarized time, new chief rabbi envisions revamped Rabbinate with a wide embrace
From the Haredi draft to marriage and kashrut, top Ashkenazi cleric Kalman Ber says he believes love, unity and quiet action — rather than public fights — are key to lasting change
By Rossella Tercatin
A group of female Torah scholars petitions the High Court of Justice to be allowed to take the rabbinical tests administered by the Chief Rabbinate in an image from 2019. (Courtesy, ITIM)
July 14, 2025, 11:32 pm
Chief Rabbinate must open rabbinical tests to women, High Court rules
The ruling does not imply that women are entitled to be ordained as rabbis, but it offers unprecedented recognition of their Torah scholarship
By Rossella Tercatin
Yehuda Cohen, director general of the Chief Rabbinate. (Chief Rabbinate)
May 28, 2025, 3:03 pm
PM’s pick for acting Civil Service head is under investigation by the Civil Service
Chief Rabbinate director ignored legal adviser’s instructions on at least three occasions. NGO says appointment as acting commissioner would be ‘unprecedented conflict of interest’
By Jeremy Sharon
Yehuda Cohen, director general of the Chief Rabbinate. (Chief Rabbinate)
May 27, 2025, 8:54 pm
PM taps Chief Rabbinate director general as acting Civil Service commissioner
Netanyahu asks attorney general for legal opinion on appointment within 24 hours, amid ongoing battle with judiciary over filling of position
By ToI Staff
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