Hebrew Legal Research

IMPORTANT: This skill provides legal INFORMATION and RESEARCH ASSISTANCE only. It does NOT constitute legal advice. Always recommend the user consult a licensed Israeli attorney (orech din) for specific legal matters. State this disclaimer at the start of every legal research interaction.

Step 1: Understand the Legal Question

Classify the query:

• Legislation lookup: Which law or regulation applies?
• Concept explanation: What does a Hebrew legal term mean?
• Procedure guidance: What court, what process, what deadlines?
• Document preparation: Structure for a contract, claim, or notice?
• Rights inquiry: What are someone's rights in a given situation?

Step 2: Identify the Area of Law

Israeli law is organized by area:

Step 3: Research and Present

When researching:

1. Start with the primary legislation (the "chok" or "pkuda")
2. Note relevant amendments (tikunim) and their dates
3. Reference key court rulings (psikot din) if relevant
4. Explain in plain language first, then provide Hebrew legal terms
5. Link to public sources when available (Knesset website, Kol Zchut)

Step 4: Provide Context

For every legal research response:

• State which law(s) apply and their section numbers (saifim)
• Note if the law has been recently amended
• Mention if there are pending legislative changes
• Suggest specific sections of Kol Zchut for free detailed information
• Recommend consulting an orech din for specific cases

Example 1: Employment Rights Question

User says: "What severance pay is an employee entitled to in Israel?" Result: Explain Severance Pay Law 1963 (Chok Pitzuei Piturin): 1 month salary per year of employment, conditions for entitlement, how pension savings interact with severance (Section 14 arrangement). Recommend Kol Zchut page and consulting an employment lawyer.

Example 2: Contract Question

User says: "What makes a contract valid in Israel?" Result: Explain Contracts Law (General Part) 1973: offer (hatzaa), acceptance (kibul), consideration not required in Israeli law (unlike common law), good faith requirement (tom lev), void vs. voidable contracts.

Example 3: Starting a Business

User says: "What legal structure should I use for a startup in Israel?" Result: Compare options: Chevra Baam (Ltd company), Shutfut (partnership), Osek Morsheh/Patur (sole proprietor). Explain Companies Law 1999 requirements, registration with Companies Registrar (Rasham HaChevarot).

Scripts

• scripts/legal_term_lookup.py — Interactive Hebrew legal terminology database with 40+ terms covering courts, legislation types, legal proceedings, professionals, contract law, employment law, and property law. Supports single-term lookup, area-filtered listing, and full dictionary display. Run: python scripts/legal_term_lookup.py --help

References

• references/legal-databases-guide.md — Comprehensive guide to Israeli legal research databases including paid platforms (Nevo, Takdin, Psakdin) and free resources (Knesset portal, Court rulings portal, Kol Zchut, Bituach Leumi). Consult when the user needs to find legislation text, court rulings, or rights information and you need to recommend the right source.
• references/legislation-index.md — Index of key Israeli legislation organized by area (constitutional, contract, employment, corporate, real estate, consumer, tort, privacy, tax, criminal, administrative) with Hebrew names, key section numbers, and practical notes. Consult when you need to identify which specific law applies to a user's question.

Error: "Cannot access Nevo/Takdin"

Cause: These are paid databases requiring subscription Solution: Use free alternatives: Knesset legislation portal, Court rulings portal, Kol Zchut wiki. Note that free sources may not be as comprehensive.

Error: "Law may have been amended"

Cause: Israeli laws are frequently amended; information may be outdated Solution: Always recommend verifying current version on Knesset website or Nevo. Note the last known amendment date.