Supreme Court Shocker: Israel Must Let Women Take Chief Rabbinate Exams 

In a landmark and unanimous decision, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Chief Rabbinate must allow women to sit for its official rabbinic ordination exams — a move that could radically reshape the religious establishment.

Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg wrote:

“Barring women — preachers, righteous, and wise — from accessing these state-administered exams is unjustified discrimination.”

Justice Ofer Grosskopf added:

“Just as a public authority cannot deny women services available to men, it cannot bar them from these exams. That’s the beginning and the end of the matter.”

The ruling is being hailed as historic by gender equality activists — and slammed by religious conservatives. The Chotam organization condemned the court, calling it a case of “progressive coercion dressed up as jurisprudence.”