Religious CourtsSitting · since 1953
The Rabbinical Court System בתי הדין הרבניים
Network of Jewish religious courts (Batei Din) with exclusive jurisdiction over Jewish marriage and divorce
State rabbinical courts apply Jewish law within the jurisdiction granted by statute. The 1953 Marriage and Divorce Law gives them exclusive jurisdiction over marriage and divorce of Jews in Israel who are citizens or residents. Regional court decisions may be appealed to the Great Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem.
Notable record
- Israeli Supreme Court reviews rabbinical-court decisions only on narrow administrative and jurisdictional grounds, preserving the religious courts' substantive halachic authority
- Parallel state-recognized religious court systems exist for Muslim (Sharia), Christian (ecclesiastical), and Druze communities, each with jurisdiction over personal-status matters within their community
Today
A law passed on 24 March 2026 permits rabbinical and Sharia courts to arbitrate certain civil disputes with all parties’ consent. Criminal and administrative matters, cases involving the state or a local authority, and disputes between spouses or former spouses are excluded from this arbitration power.
Cite this page
The Rabbinical Court System, Network of Jewish religious courts (Batei Din) with exclusive jurisdiction over Jewish marriage and divorce. The State of Israel. https://thestateofisrael.com/justice/the-rabbinical-court-system