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25th Knesset · outgoing

Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law (Amendment – One Chief Rabbi) Bill

Translated from Hebrew: הצעת חוק הרבנות הראשית לישראל (תיקון - רב ראשי אחד)

TL;DRThe bill amends the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law so that there will be one Chief Rabbi instead of two.

Translated from Hebrew

What does the bill do?

The bill amends the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law (5740-1980) and the Dayanim Law (5715-1955) in order to replace the system of two Chief Rabbis (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) with one Chief Rabbi of Israel. In addition, the bill changes provisions concerning his duties, term of office and rights compared with the existing system. According to the explanatory notes, the change is based on the fact that the ingathering of the exiles in Israel makes having two Chief Rabbis unnecessary, and abolishing the dual position will save economic and bureaucratic resources.

Rejected at preliminary readingFirst plenum vote: February 4, 2026
Initiated by: oppositionRead the full text (bill for preliminary reading) ↗

The votes on this bill

Rejected25 for · 50 against · 2 abstained · 43 did not vote
Source: the Knesset's vote record ↗

Coalition 67 seats

LikudAgainst 25 · Absent 7
ShasAgainst 7 · Absent 4
United Torah JudaismAgainst 3 · Absent 4
Religious ZionismAgainst 6 · Absent 1
Otzma YehuditAgainst 4 · Absent 2
New Hope – The United RightAgainst 4

Left the coalition 9 seats

Blue and White – National UnityAbsent 8
NoamAgainst 1

Opposition 44 seats

Yesh AtidFor 19 · Abstained 1 · Absent 4
Yisrael BeytenuFor 5 · Absent 1
Ra'amAbsent 5
Hadash–Ta'alAbstained 1 · Absent 4
LaborFor 1 · Absent 3

Tap an MK for detailsChanged position between readingsOnly MKs who held a seat on the day of the vote are shown

Other bills with a similar name · 1Separate bills (usually different amendments to the same law) - not readings of this bill.
Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law (Amendment – One Chief Rabbi) BillJuly 12, 2023