First of all, I would like to wish a big mazal tov to the first three women in Israel to sit for State Rabbinate exams, despite all the obstacles that it placed in their way: the Rabbaniot Yaara Vidman Samuel, Ruth Agiv, and Rachel Tzivon.  In addition to the immense Torah knowledge you obtained, you have achieved a historic accomplishment and inspired generations of women, setting a precedent for those who wish to sit for similar exams in the future. The glass ceiling has been raised to another level. Despite my support of this step and any step that increases women’s opportunities to become Torah scholars, I do have a few theoretical concerns about this process:

I am worried that this victory will allow us to ignore the work that needs to be done. If we want taking rabbinic exams to be a realistic option for women, we need to invest in quality text study for women, including Talmud and halachic literature, for girls, starting in elementary school and high school – just as we do for boys. Without that foundation, women find themselves forced to play catch-up, investing years of study as adults, when they have the financial pressure of supporting themselves, in order to attain the level of text study that men have after only a few years........

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