Women Break Orthodox Rabbinical Exam Barrier in Israel
For the first time in Israeli history, the state administered rabbinical ordination exams to Orthodox women in April 2024.
Three women sat for the rigorous, nearly six-hour test on Jewish mourning laws, marking a historic shift. The change follows an eight-year legal battle by advocacy group ITIM, culminating in a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the state to allow women to take the exams.
"Women need to be part of the world of Torah... We should not need to be outside. It belongs to us."
— Dr. Ruth Agiv, a dentist and exam taker
Background of the Legal Battle
To be officially recognized as an Orthodox rabbi in Israel, candidates must pass a series of state-administered exams—tests that were previously restricted to men.
While women can now take these exams, Israel's Orthodox religious authorities continue to refuse to ordain women as rabbis, and most Orthodox communities resist conferring that title on women. However, passing the exams may now qualify women for public servant roles managing state-funded religious services.
The victory came with a notable concession: the Supreme Court ordered the rabbinate to pay ITIM approximately $5,000 in court fees.
Resistance from the Rabbinate
The path to this breakthrough was not straightforward. After the court ruling, Orthodox religious authorities refused to administer exams to anyone for over six months. A subsequent court order compelled them to proceed.
"The momentum toward recognizing women's Torah scholarship is irreversible. The question now is whether the Rabbinate will choose to lead that process responsibly or continue resisting a reality that Israeli society and the courts have already acknowledged."
— Rabbi Seth Farber, leader of ITIM
Rabbi Farber also noted that the chief rabbis expressed "deep regret" over the court's ruling, viewing it as "interference in topics carrying implications in Jewish religious law."
Uncertainty Over Implementation
The situation remains unfinished. A second test scheduled for July 2024 was delayed by several months without explanation. The Israeli Chief Rabbinate also postponed the July 2024 test for both men and women without public comment, raising questions about the full implementation of the court's ruling.
Despite these setbacks, advocates remain optimistic.
"In Israel, we broke the glass ceiling of learning."
— Rabbanit Batya Krauss, teacher at the Matan institute
Rabbi Farber stated he believes women will eventually be ordained as rabbis, though he acknowledged he does not know if it will occur in his lifetime.
What This Means Going Forward
The April 2024 exams represent more than a procedural change—they signal a potential shift in the relationship between state authority and religious institutions in Israel. With legal backing and growing public support, the push for women's recognition within Orthodox Judaism appears to be gaining irreversible momentum, even as resistance from traditional authorities continues.