Chief Rabbinate

Opposition takes aim at reforms to kosher supervision

Amendments designed to restore powers of Chief Rabbinate weakened by former Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana.

The Rise and Fall of Israel's 36th government

As predicted, over the last few weeks the pace of the dissolution of this government has heated up with its demise expected shortly.Op-ed..

Matza of love

Israel's first chief rabbi: In the Torah, the Jews were told to eat matza two weeks before Pesach, so what is the real reason we eat matza?

Converts threaten to demonstrate against Chief Rabbinate

Converts to Judaism write to Chief Rabbi Lau after he refuses to sign conversion certificates in fight against government conversion reform.

Chief Rabbis: New Conversion Law is based on deceit

Those who 'convert' according to Kahana's law won't be recognized as Jews by vast majority of rabbis, warn Israel's chief rabbis.

The Issues behind the Conversion Issue

Understanding and responding to the State of Israel 's Conversion reform Controversy. Op-ed.

Religious Affairs Minister Kahana blasts 'extremism' within Religious-Zionist sector

Kahana condemns rabbis for failing to protest speech by Chief Rabbi, calls for an "end to divisive discourse."

Religious Zionist leaders stand behind Chief Rabbinate

About 1,000 rabbis to attend demonstration against Minister Matan Kahana's reforms to the kashrut and conversion systems.

Religious-Zionist youth to hold protest march against plans to marginalize Chief Rabbinate

Religious Affairs Minister: "Protesting is best use of one's citizenship rights; I have no problem with people protesting my policies."

Religious-Zionist youth to hold protest march against government

No, a Chief Rabbi is not a government clerk

If a Chief Rabbi, amid a conversion dispute, says he will not certify certain standards as a matter of conscience, I stand with him. Op-ed.

The Conversion Bill will cause more problems than it solves

There are hundreds of thousands of non-Jewish Israelis not interested in a halakhic conversion or a lifestyle of any Torah observance.Op-ed.

Chief Rabbi Lau: The Knesset won't decide who is a Jew

"A Jew is someone who commits to Torah observance, regardless of any legislation the Knesset may pass."

Chief Rabbinate's complaints with Tzohar kashrut revealed

Details of Chief Rabbinate's response to Tzohar petition to Supreme Court revealed. Tzohar dismisses allegations.

Danger for the Jewish people!

A demand addressed to MK Kalfon from a French immigrant.

Israel's Chief Rabbis issue condemnation of abortion

Both of Israel's chief rabbis denounce abortion, make public appeal against the practice.

Yisrael Beytenu to Kahana: 'Your conversion bill won't happen'

Yisrael Beytenu, Yesh Atid insist coalition agreements remove Chief Rabbinate entirely from authority over conversions.

Kahana's outline for conversions revealed

Outline developed with senior Religious-Zionist rabbis, will enable tens of thousands of conversions of non-Jews of Jewish descent.

Ombudsman: Remove Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's status as judge

Former Supreme Court Justice Uri Shoham tells Religious Affairs Minister Chief Rabbi Yosef's opposition to kashrut reforms has gone too far.

Afula Chief Rabbi supports kashrut reforms

Rabbi Shmuel David speaks out in favor of Minister Kahana's reforms: 'It is a pity the Chief Rabbinate did not respond or cooperate.;

Food fights: The proposed Kashrut reform

To destroy Israel's kashrut system and undermine consumer confidence, it is hard to imagine a better plan than the proposed reforms. Op-ed.

IDF cancels soldiers' tour of Temple Mount, following request by Sephardic Chief Rabbi

Sephardic Chief Rabbi wrote to IDF Chief of Staff, citing repeated rulings on part of Chief Rabbinate forbidding ascent to the Mount.

Dozens of rabbis hold conference decrying government reforms in religious sphere

'We will not cooperate with dismantling the Chief Rabbinate,' rabbis insist. 'Proposed reforms will lead to anarchy.'

Chief Rabbinate raids meatpacking plant

The Chief Rabbinate has stripped a meatpacking plant of kosher status after finding numerous prohibited cuts of beef on the premises.

Religious Zionist rabbis decry 'kashrut revolution'

Leading rabbis say any reform to kashrut industry must be approved by the Chief Rabbinate.

MK Uriel Busso: 'They only want reforms when it comes to the Rabbinate'

Shas MK Uriel Busso slams reform for kosher supervision, demanding Religious Affairs Min. 'work together with the chief rabbis.'

Chief Rabbinate denounces new Kashrut guidelines

Israel's Chief Rabbinate calls the free market for Kashrut supervision 'the end of Kashrut in Israel."

MK Gilad Kariv blames Chief Rabbinate for clashes at Western Wall

Reform MK accuses Chief Rabbi of "trying to prevent egalitarian prayer."

MK Kariv blames Chief Rabbinate for clashes at Western Wall

European Beth Din to align with Israeli Chief Rabbinate

Conference of European Rabbis agrees to align European Jewish court with Israel's Chief Rabbinate, easing bureaucracy for immigrants.

MK: Serious, deadly breach of trust of kashrut-keeping public

Shas MK Moshe Arbel demands Chief Rabbinate act after woman dies from eating dairy at a kosher meat restaurant.

Tzohar Rabbinical Organization decries Supreme Court non-halakhic conversion decision

Blames 'power brokers' associated with Chief Rabbinate for allowing decision to go ahead.

Tzohar decries Supreme Court non-halakhic conversion decision

Chief Rabbinate appeal for Passover in hospitals rejected

Justice Esther Hayut refuses to hear new arguments against bringing leavened food into hospitals on Passover

Supreme Court refuses to reopen hospital Passover case

Chief Rabbinate: Women should not be tested for the rabbinate

Chief Rabbinical Council says calls for ordination exams for women are attempts to harm rabbinate as an institution.

Yisrael Beyteinu seeks to change face of Chief Rabbinate

Avigdor Liberman's party to submit bill to add greater diversity to the body which elects the chief rabbis.

Rabbi David Lau: 'Praying in synagogues on holidays depends on keeping guidelines today'

Israeli Chief Rabbi David Lau talks about coronavirus restrictions, upcoming fast days, and whether synagogues will be open during holidays.

'Situation during holidays depends on keeping guidelines today'

The unique prophecy of Moses

Torah from Israel's first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Torah Luminary and iconic leader of Religious Zionism.

Former Chief Rabbinate official indicted for bribery

Rabbi Yitzhak Arazi, former head of kashrut imports at Chief Rabbinate, charged with receiving bribes to fast-track kashrut certificates.

Chief Rabbis: Pray at home

Chief Rabbinate issues guidelines for Passover, says burning of chametz is banned this year, use of Zoom for seder not allowed.

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate officially recognizes Ethiopian Beta Israel community as Jewish

Israeli Chief Rabbinate accepts position of late Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef that Ethiopian Beta Israel community are completely Jewish.

Chief Rabbinate officially recognizes Ethiopian Jews

Will restaurant open on Shabbat be certified kosher?

Restaurant which is open on Saturdays but does not violate Shabbat files appeal against rabbinate's decision not to grant certification.

Liberman petitions against DNA testing

Yisrael Beyteinu party submits Supreme Court petition to cancel DNA tests for immigrants from former Soviet Union to prove Jewishness.