Politics · Other · 3 hrs ago
Seven women to take Israel’s rabbinical exams under equal testing conditions
Seven women are due to take the Chief Rabbinate’s rabbinical exams in Israel on Wednesday.
They will be the second group of women allowed to sit the exams, following a High Court ruling last year that required the Rabbinate to let women take them.
The ruling concerned access to the exams, not the granting of rabbinical ordination.
The Rabbinate has committed to providing the women with the same testing conditions as men.
That commitment followed problems during the first women’s exams in April, including a delay and the absence of a proctor to answer questions.
The exams can take five to six hours, and ITIM says the Rabbinate has not promised accommodations for pregnant or nursing candidates.
Candidates must pass at least six of seven exams, which cover areas of Jewish law, to receive rabbinic certification.
Seven women are set to take the Chief Rabbinate’s rabbinical exams on Wednesday under conditions the Rabbinate has pledged will match those for men.
The commitment followed a petition by religious rights group ITIM seeking to ensure the exams are properly administered.
It will be the second time women in Israel have been permitted to take the exams, after a High Court ruling last year.
Three women who took the exams in April faced a delay and were tested at a different location from men.
ITIM’s director said the Rabbinate had not committed to accommodations for pregnant or nursing candidates, although the exam can last five to six hours.
- Who
- Seven women are set to take the exams. The Rabbinate administers them.
- What
- The women are scheduled to sit for rabbinical exams under conditions the Rabbinate pledged would match those for men.
- When
- Wednesday; the article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Israel. The venue for the upcoming exams is not stated.
- Why
- The High Court ruled last year that women must be allowed to take the exams on gender-equality grounds. ITIM petitioned to ensure they were properly administered.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I admit that last time I was naive, and I thought nothing would go wrong
This time, we’re doing the work beforehand to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.
the momentum has turned
The High Court ruled that the Rabbinate must allow women to take rabbinical exams on gender-equality grounds.
Three women sat for the exams for the first time, but faced a delay and took them at a different location from men.
ITIM secured the Rabbinate’s written commitment to provide the women with the same testing conditions as men.
Seven women are scheduled to take the exams.
- Candidates scheduled
- Seven women
- Exam duration
- Five to six hours
- Passing requirement
- At least six of seven exams
- Previous cohort
- Three women took the exams in April
- Exam topics
- Kashrut, niddah, Shabbat, mourning and marriage laws
Sources
Related news
Poland detains man over alleged plot against Tusk and defense minister
Pakistan declares emergency in province governed by Imran Khan's party
Muhriz invited to Malaysia’s rulers council amid Negeri Sembilan dispute
Kurdish leader urges Syria to protect Kurdish rights in constitution
Philippine House approves bill limiting social media access for under-13s
Aoun and Hezbollah’s dispute over weapons deepens in Lebanon
Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores elected mayor in Peru
Ukraine passes bill expanding minority-language rights in schools
Abbas postpones Palestinian elections until September 2027
ANC argues IEC confirmation button was not required for nominations
Singapore weighs safeguards as AI could reduce training for young workers
