Yesterday, two Hadassah Foundation grantees–the Rackman Center and the Center for Women’s Justice, celebrated a great victory: a ‘Law of Rabbinical Judges’ was passed in Israel, ensuring that women are included on the selection committee for rabbinical judges. According to the new law (initiated by Rackman,
together with other women’s organizations), at least 4 out of 11 members of the selection committee have to be women.
Prof Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Director of The Rackman Center said, “We are so happy about the historical passing of this law with the parliamentarian work of [Israeli Knesset Members] Shuli Muallem, Aliza Lavie and Zahava Gal-on. Given the power of the rabbinical courts in Israel–and their monopoly
over Jewish marriage and divorce cases–it is critical that women play a role in the selection process, especially since the (Orthodox) judges are all men.”
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, released a statement praising the development. You can read it here.