After a chareidi filibuster in Knesset, at about 04:00 on Tuesday, 3 Tammuz 5773, the new law pertaining to the appointment of dayanim passed its second and third readings. This refers to the bill sponsored by MKs Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid) and Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Bayit Yehudi). The bill became the first private bill to be passed in the 19th Knesset.

MKs from Yahadut Hatorah and Shas tied up the plenum with objections to the bill. Some gave divrei Torah while others told stories of tzaddikim, all in the name of prolonging the session. Despite their efforts, the bill passed into law in a 33-12 vote.

According to the old law, the committee which appoints the dayanim who serve on Chief Rabbinate of Israel affiliated batei din was made up of 10 people. This included the two chief rabbis, two dayanim from the Chief Rabbinate Supreme Court, the justice minister (who served as chair of the committee), an additional cabinet minister, two members of Knesset and two attorneys acting as representatives of the Israel Bar Association.

In line with the new law, one of the committee members representing Knesset, the bar association and cabinet must be a women. That means at least three women. In addition, the committee was expanded to include an 11th member, which must be a rabbinical advocate, also a woman. The latter will be selected by the justice minister. As such, the committee of 11 must now include a minimum of 4 women.

In the case of the current committee, the justice minister is also a woman, Tzipi Livni, so 5 of the 11 will be women.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)