ITIM demands equal conditions for women in upcoming Chief Rabbinate exams

ITIM, an Israeli advocacy organization, has demanded that the Chief Rabbinate guarantee equal conditions for women in upcoming certification exams, warning of legal action after women faced severe delays during the historic first sitting in April. The organization argues that separating venues between men and women constitutes improper exclusion.

ITIM, an Israeli advocacy organization, has demanded that the Chief Rabbinate guarantee women equal conditions in its upcoming certification exams, warning it may return to court. The demand follows the historic first sitting for women in April, when three female candidates waited approximately four and a half hours after the men began before receiving their exam papers. In a September 17 letter, ITIM asked the Rabbinate to ensure women's exams begin and end on time, are graded anonymously, and are held under the same physical conditions as men's. The Rabbinate published exam dates on September 16 and said tests would be held at two Jerusalem venues. ITIM expects men to sit at the convention center and women at the ministry, arguing that separating the venues amounts to improper exclusion. The dispute is the latest stage of an eight-year fight over women's access to the state examinations, following a July 2025 High Court ruling that women could not be barred from the exams. The Rabbinate's certificates carry professional and financial consequences, affecting eligibility and salary scales for some public-sector positions.