Noam Sohlberg נעם סולברג
Religious Zionist justice from Alon Shvut in Gush Etzion whose principled, restraint-minded jurisprudence has made him the intellectual leader of the Court's conservative wing. A consistent voice for judicial deference to the Knesset and for the legitimacy of religious life as a constitutional value.
Background
Born in Jerusalem to a family with deep religious-Zionist roots, Sohlberg studied at Yeshivat Hakotel and the Hebrew University, served in the IDF, and built a career in the Jerusalem District Court before his 2012 Supreme Court appointment. Lives in Alon Shvut and has openly identified with the Religious Zionist community, a presence on the Court that helps ensure the bench reflects the full breadth of Israeli Jewish life.
Notable record
- Lead dissenting voice in the 8-7 ruling striking down the Reasonableness Amendment (January 2024), arguing that the Court should not invalidate a duly enacted Basic Law absent the clearest possible breach of Israel's foundational identity
- Long record of opinions urging judicial deference to security decisions of the elected government and the IDF, particularly on counter-terrorism and West Bank matters
- Authored thoughtful opinions on the proper accommodation of religious practice within state institutions, including kashrut, Shabbat, and the religious education system
- Widely respected across the political spectrum for the rigor of his reasoning and the consistency of his restraint-based approach
Today
Continues as one of the most influential justices on the bench, frequently writing the leading conservative opinion when the Court divides. Often cited as the natural future leader of any reconstituted Court following the 2025 selection-committee reform.
Why it matters
Embodies the proposition that judicial conservatism, religious commitment, and full participation in the State of Israel's highest institutions belong together, a model that the Jewish state's Religious Zionist community has rallied around for over a decade.
Cite this page
Noam Sohlberg, Senior Justice of the Supreme Court. The State of Israel. https://thestateofisrael.com/justice/noam-sohlberg