Kolech

Here you can find articles, initiatives, and projects I have led or participated in as part of Kolech, where I am an active member. In the past, I headed the organization’s Department for the Prevention and Response to Sexual Abuse.
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Kolech envisions gender equality as a guiding and self-evident value in the religious sphere and as a moral compass for Israeli society as a whole. The organization prioritizes the advancement of women into positions of religious and spiritual leadership while actively working to prevent harm to women committed under the guise of halakha or by religious institutions.

Interview in Haaretz on the Rabbaniot Petition and Its Implications

"The Rabbinate exams aren't Halakhic, they're administrative." said Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz

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After Seven Years, Rabbinate Exams Open to Women: Op-Ed at Hartman

For the first time in Israel's history: Rabbinate exams open to women. A historic victory after 7 years — but the fine print raises concerns

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Galei Tzahal Interview on the Rabbinate Exams Supreme Court Ruling

Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz on Galei Tzahal: We can't afford to take offense. We choose proactive action for all women seeking halakhic recognition

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Post in My Times of Israel Blog About the Rabbanut Exams

Finally, women like me can take the Rabbinate’s exams in Jewish law * The Supreme Court has ruled that a policy of ‘only men’ is discriminatory, but will Israel’s Chief Rabbinate uphold that decision?

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Op-Ed: the Months in Which Registration for the Chief Rabbinate Exams Have Been Blocked for All

Ahead of the activity week of Israeli Rabbinate, dedicated this year to the theme “Torah, Leadership, and Choice,” Rabbanit Sarah wrote about the frustrating reality of the past six months: it has simply been impossible—for both men and women—to register for the Halachic examinations of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. This situation began not long […]

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Article on the Supreme Court’s Final Ruling Against the Chief Rabbinate

Israel’s High Court rejected the Rabbinate’s request to reopen the case and reaffirmed: women must be allowed to take all rabbinical exams, without restriction.

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Op-Ed: Assessing the Chief Rabbinate’s Claims vis-à-vis the HCJ

Op-ed: Rabbanit Sarah on the Rabbinate’s stay and rehearing in HCJ: Exams aren’t just ordination; opening them to women is a civic duty.

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Chief Rabbinate Will Let Women Take Some Rabbinical Tests

Chief Rabbinate seeks a further HCJ hearing and a stay, while offering women only partial exam access. Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz urges full compliance.

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Rabbinate: Limited Women’s Access to Exams

Interview with Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz on the Rabbinate’s plan to open only two exams to women: “If women can sit some exams, why not the others?”

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Report: On the Rabbinate’s Bid to Suspend and Rehear the HCJ Ruling

After the HCJ ordered the Chief Rabbinate to let women sit its exams, the Rabbinate seeks a further hearing and a stay. With responses from Atty. Yair Mivorach-Shaag, Atty. Dr. Elad Caplan, and Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz.

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In order not to allow women to be examined: Registration for the rabbinical exams has not opened even for men

The Israeli Supreme Court’s historic ruling required the Chief Rabbinate to allow women to sit for the rabbinical certification exams. Yet the Rabbinate chose to block registration—harming men as well as women preparing for the tests. For now, an important legal victory in the name of equality, freedom of profession, and the rule of law has been obstructed. Rabbi Sarah Segal-Katz is one of the petitioners and winners in this case, together with the ITIM organization, the Rackman Center, and Kolech.

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The Tablets and the Broken Tablets: Parashat Eikev 5775

Dvar Torah for Parashat Eikev 5785: On life alongside rupture, the connection between physical break and spiritual tear, and living with memory.

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Dvar Torah for Parashat Beha’alotcha 5784: On the Yearning for Clarity Amid the Fog

How do we find words when words are kidnapped? Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz on yearning for clarity amid fog, choosing to let light grow from within

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Dvar Torah for Parshat Tazria

Dvar Torah on Parashat Tazria 5784: On feminist reading of "purity and impurity", women's testimonies in niddah laws, and religious feminism.

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Dvar Torah for Parashat Behaalotcha 5783

On the wilderness journey as life metaphor, God's presence in the cloud, dealing with difficulties, and communal responsibility to ease others' burdens.

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We can’t whiten

I wonder about us as a society. I wonder about the civic language that exists but has not yet sufficiently settled within our religious life

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Knesset Committee on Bridal Guidance – From Mandatory Obligation to Free Choice

In a Knesset committee, the requirement for women to undergo bridal guidance when registering for marriage was discussed. Rabbanit Segal-Katz outlined the challenges of the current requirement and presented possible alternatives.

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Participation in an Investigative Program on Egg Freezing for Single Women in Israel

An investigative program on egg freezing for single women raised legal and social questions. Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz voiced Kolech’s call for equal access

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The Rebbetz-men: On the Husbands – Spouses of Female Halakhic Authorities

An article about the place of spouses of female halakhic Rabbis and the domestic implications of this historic shift. Adam Katz speaks about life with Rabbanit Sarah Segal-Katz in her role as a halakhic teacher. He notes that questions arrive at all hours and that couples tell her - rabbinical authority is authority, regardless of whether a rabbi or rabbanit responds.

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From Joseph and his Brothers to Joseph and his Brother

D'var torah for Parashat Miketz

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Advot’s Second Conference – Continuing the Conversation on the Mikveh

Advot began with a call to talk about the mikveh. Through panels and public work, women’s voices shaped change for bathers & attendants. Watch the 2013 2nd conf. panel.