In a historic achievement for Jewish law, the Knesset approved a bill earlier this week restoring jurisdiction to Rabbinical courts to rule on monetary disputes, an authority revoked by a Supreme Court ruling in 2006.

The approval of the law is a historic achievement for Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni, who fought for the law for more than two decades. Sixty‑five MKs voted in favor of the bill, while forty‑one opposed it.

The law marks a significant shift. Since 2006, the Rabbinical courts have dealt only with marriage, divorce, and yerushah.

It should be emphasized that the new law clearly anchors the principle of full consent and states that judicial authority will be granted to the Beis Din only after all parties to the process have given their explicit written consent. The law does not change anything in existing civil law but adds a voluntary path for the public that wishes to resolve disputes through arbitration under state supervision, responding to the public need for a court process with structured procedures, protocol recording, and the possibility of appeal—advantages not always present in private Rabbinical courts.

Moreover, the law ensures that the rulings of the Rabbinical courts will align with the protective laws of the state, including the Women’s Equal Rights Law and labor laws that protect workers’ rights. Unlike private arbitration, a ruling issued by the state Rabbinical court in these matters will have the force of a court ruling for all purposes, without requiring additional approval procedures, offering a fast, efficient, and low‑cost process.

Despite these facts, left-wing opposition members lost no time in slamming it, making false and inflammatory statements about Israel becoming a “halachic state.” Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said, “Mark this day. The status quo is dead—buried, gone, no longer binding. There is no longer any status quo on matters of religion and state. It ended today, when, during a war, after the coalition promised to pass only war-related laws, the Chareidi parties forced through legislation giving Rabbinical courts powers akin to those of a civil court.”

Lapid even threatened that the passage of the bill would have consequences in the future government led by him, including advancing civil marriage legislation, conditioning state funding for schools on full core curriculum studies, and denying state benefits to individuals who evade military conscription. He also pledged to promote policies allowing municipalities greater authority over religious appointments, including the option to hire Reform and Conservative rabbis, as well as introducing public transportation on Shabbat in secular-majority areas and alternative kosher certification independent of the Chief Rabbinate.

Following the bill’s passing, Gafni said: “I submitted the bill for the first time immediately after the Supreme Court ruling on the 8th of Nisan 5766—symbolically, exactly 20 years ago. I heard that the opposition claims the status quo ended today, and I ask where the status quo was when I brought the chametz law that authorizes hospital directors to prevent chametz from being brought into medical centers, or in other similar cases.”

“Davnka during wartime, when we need yeshuos from Hakadosh Baruch Hu, if two people want to adjudicate monetary matters according to Torah law with the consent of both sides—what’s wrong with that? The status quo is here, was, and remains!”

“I am happy that we passed this law, with Hashem’s help, after so many years, and expanded the authority of the Batei Din in Israel. We will act the same way in other struggles, continue with determination, and will not give up!”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)