The basics: chufshat leda (maternity leave)
The main leave period is called chufshat leda — maternity leave. The standard paid entitlement is around 15 weeks (105 days) for those who qualify, though the rules have changed over the years and may change again. The paid portion is funded by the state through Bituach Leumi (National Insurance), not by your employer, so your employer is generally not paying your salary during this period.
After the paid leave ends, it is possible to extend the leave with unpaid leave up to a total of about 26 weeks, subject to conditions. This is sometimes called chufshat leda lo-betulat — unpaid extension — and job protection applies during and after it (see below).
If you have a multiple birth or other circumstances, the entitlement may differ. The Bituach Leumi website has the current rules for each scenario.
Eligibility: do you qualify?
Entitlement to paid maternity leave (and the state payment that goes with it) depends on your National Insurance contribution history before the birth. Broadly, you need to have worked and paid Bituach Leumi contributions for a qualifying number of months in the period leading up to the start of your leave — but the exact thresholds (how many months, over what window) are set by law and are subject to change.
Employees generally need fewer qualifying months than self-employed workers. New olim who arrived recently and have not yet built up contributions may qualify for a shorter paid period or may not qualify at all for the state payment — but this depends on your individual circumstances.
Do not rely on this guide for the precise qualifying periods. Check your exact eligibility on the official Bituach Leumi website (btl.gov.il) or call their information line before your leave starts.
How the pay works: dmei leda (maternity pay)
The state payment is called dmei leda — maternity pay. It is calculated based on your gross salary (or income) in the months before the leave, up to a statutory daily cap that Bituach Leumi updates periodically. You will not receive more than the cap regardless of your salary.
Dmei leda is typically paid as a lump sum directly into your bank account once you submit your claim after the birth — it is not paid weekly or monthly like a regular salary. Plan your cash-flow accordingly: there may be a gap of several weeks between starting leave and receiving the payment.
To receive dmei leda, you (or your employer on your behalf) need to file a claim with Bituach Leumi. Your employer should guide you through the paperwork, but it is worth asking HR early so nothing is missed.
Sharing leave with a partner / paternity rights
Israeli law allows part of the maternity leave to be transferred to (shared with) the other parent, under conditions. Broadly, if the mother returns to work early, the remaining portion of the paid leave period can be taken by the partner instead — but there are rules about the minimum the mother must take herself before any sharing begins.
Fathers and partners also have a separate, shorter entitlement to paid paternity leave around the time of the birth. The exact number of days and the conditions differ from the main maternity leave, and have been expanded in recent years. Check the current entitlement on the Bituach Leumi site, as this area of the law has been evolving.
Same-sex couples and adoptive parents have rights in this area too — the rules are specific and worth verifying directly.
Going back to work: job protection, sha'at hanaka, and childcare
Your job is protected during chufshat leda and for a period after you return. An employer cannot dismiss you or significantly change your role during the protected period without special authorisation. If you feel your rights are being violated, contact the Ministry of Labour (Misrad HaAvoda).
After returning to work, breastfeeding mothers are entitled to a sha'at hanaka — literally a "nursing hour" — a daily reduction in working hours for a period after the return. This is a paid reduction (the employer cannot dock pay for this hour), and the duration of the entitlement depends on how long you continue breastfeeding. Check the current rules with HR or the Ministry of Labour, as the details matter.
Lining up childcare before you go back is one of the most stressful parts. For children under age 3, the main options are a maon (daycare centre) or a mishpachton (small home daycare). Subsidised places at licensed daycare centres are available to working parents, with discounts based on income, and new olim may have access to specific ulpan-linked childcare or absorption-related subsidies. Demand for subsidised places in popular cities far exceeds supply, so start looking well before the end of your leave.
Notes for self-employed and new olim
If you are self-employed (atzmai), you are covered by Bituach Leumi maternity pay, but the qualifying conditions and calculation method may differ from those for employees. You need to have registered as self-employed with Bituach Leumi and been paying contributions. The rates and qualifying periods are worth checking carefully before the birth, especially if your income has varied.
New olim who have recently made aliyah: your eligibility for the full dmei leda depends on having paid Israeli National Insurance contributions for the qualifying period — time worked abroad before aliyah generally does not count. If you arrived while already pregnant or within a year of giving birth, your entitlement may be reduced or nil for the state payment, though other benefits (Bituach Leumi birth grant, health-fund maternity rights) may still apply. Speak to Bituach Leumi and your absorption centre early.
In all cases, the rules in this area are specific, regularly updated, and your entitlement is personal to your contribution record. Use this guide as an orientation, not as advice — confirm everything with Bituach Leumi directly.
This guide is for general orientation only and is current as of 2026. Maternity and paternity leave law in Israel changes frequently — qualifying periods, payment caps, and sharing rules have all been amended in recent years. Do not rely on this page for your specific entitlement. Always verify your personal situation with Bituach Leumi (btl.gov.il), your employer's HR, or a labour lawyer before making decisions.