First: Israel recognizes private conversion, woman to receive citizenship

Israel's Supreme Court recognized a conversion performed by a private Orthodox rabbinical court, "Ahavat HaGer," as sufficient for repatriation under the Law of Return. The ruling concerns a woman who arrived in 2005 as a foreign worker and converted in 2018. The court rejected the state's appeal, citing the authority of Rabbi Chaim Amsalem. Each application will be reviewed individually.

Israel's Supreme Court recognized a conversion performed by a private Orthodox rabbinical court, "Ahavat HaGer," as sufficient grounds for obtaining citizenship under the Law of Return. The ruling, issued on November 12, 2026, concerns a woman who arrived in Israel in 2005 as a foreign worker and converted in 2018. The Population and Immigration Authority had denied her three times, citing a lack of criteria and doubts about the sincerity of her conversion. The Jerusalem District Court ruled in her favor in 2024, recognizing the kashrut of the private court. The state appealed to the Supreme Court, which rejected the appeal. The justices noted that Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, who heads "Ahavat HaGer," is a recognized authority, and his court operates by the same standards as the state-recognized "Giyur KaHalacha" network. The court also emphasized that each citizenship application will be reviewed individually for sincerity of intent. The ruling does not affect the 2024 criteria, which the court did not address on their merits.