Crisis in the Rabbinical Courts: hearings, divorces, and travel bans to be halted
Following a Supreme Court ruling that halted the transfer of funds, senior officials in the religious services system warn of a complete cessation of services to citizens as early as this coming Sunday. The freeze will prevent the opening of divorce cases, Jewish status inquiries, and the issuance of travel bans. A senior official in the religious services system harshly criticized the move: "Justice Stein made an exception for security needs, but did not find it appropriate to make an exception for the rabbinical courts that serve the entire public."
An unprecedented crisis is expected to hit the rabbinical court system starting this coming Sunday. A senior official in the religious services system warns that all services provided to citizens will be fully halted, following a Supreme Court ruling that stopped the transfer of funds recently approved by the Knesset Finance Committee.
At the center of the crisis is a budget transfer of 18 million shekels, intended, among other things, for payment to essential suppliers, specifically the computing company that provides server infrastructure and technology for the administration of the rabbinical courts. According to sources in the system, the funds were promised to the company in advance, and the suppliers agreed to show restraint and wait until the completion of the budget transfer. However, an order issued by the Supreme Court stopped the funds from taking effect, which, according to officials, leads to direct and severe harm to citizens seeking to receive urgent services.
Harm to the public: divorces, travel bans, and Jewish status inquiries
The expected shutdown will severely harm a wide range of citizens who need the system's services during this sensitive period of the year and ahead of the summer vacation. Among the services that will be stopped immediately are the opening of divorce cases, the filing or cancellation of travel bans — a critical measure during a period when many Israelis travel abroad — as well as Jewish status inquiries and the issuance of personal status certificates.
In the religious services system, harsh criticism was leveled against the legal decision. According to the official, similar measures were never taken against budgets intended for the administration of the general courts, and the current ruling is a direct continuation of a targeted attack on the status of the rabbinical courts. He stated:
"While Supreme Court Justice David Stein knew how to exclude vital security needs from his ruling, he did not find it appropriate to exclude the rabbinical courts, which provide daily service to all citizens of Israel without distinction."
