Editing Israeli system of government (section)

===Religious courts===
{{See also|Religion in Israel}}
[[File:Jerusalem Great Synagogue05.jpg|thumb|[[Jerusalem Great Synagogue]], seat of Chief Rabbinate]]
Some issues of family law (marriage and divorce in particular) fall either under the jurisdiction of religious courts or under parallel jurisdiction of those and the state's family courts. The state maintains and finances Rabbinical, Sharia and various Canonical courts for the needs of the various religious communities. All judges are civil servants, and required to uphold general law in their tribunals as well. The Supreme Court serves as final appellate instance for all religious courts.

[[Jews|Jewish]] religious courts are under control of the Prime Minister's Office and the [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel]]. These courts have jurisdiction in only five areas: [[Kashrut]], [[Shabbat|Sabbath]], [[Jewish burial]], [[Jewish view of marriage|marital]] issues (especially divorce), and [[Ger tzedek|Jewish status]] of immigrants. However, except for determining a person's marital status, all other marital issues may also be taken to secular Family Courts.

The other major religious communities in Israel, such as [[Islam|Muslims]] and [[Christianity|Christians]], have their own religious courts. These courts have similar jurisdiction over their followers as Jewish religious courts, although Muslim religious courts have more control over family affairs.