Culture  Lifestyle
Larnaca – Israelis' marriage capital?
Itamar Eichner
Published: 16.06.11, 14:23
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1. This is very problematic
American Sabrah   (06.16.11)
If they only have a civil wedding, their marriage won't be recognized by Jewish Law and their children will be considered illegitimate.I am not just spewing my religious fanatical views.This is what the Torah dictates.You may not believe it or scoff it off now but sooner or later, you will have to realize how grave this is for the future of the Jewish people.Unfortunately,this is what happens when helonim Israelis and unaffiliated Jews don't receive a proper Jewish education.Its not too difficult to arrange a Jewish wedding ceremony. You can carry on with your secular lifestyle afterwards.Just know what's at stake.
2. i agree with no. 1
(06.16.11)
the reason why it is the way it is in israel to to keep things for the jews as they are. israel is not usa where you can get married by a justice of peace in a civil union. there is something to be said for being married in the country you live in to show support for your own country and its belief system, or else why live there?
3. Welcome to Cyprus
Greek Cypriot ,   Cyprus   (06.16.11)
This is an important event for the strengthening of the Cypriot-Israeli tourist relations. Ask any Israeli who has been here and he will tell you that Cyprus is a friendly place for Israeli tourists and businessmen. Wellcome to Cyprus, have fun and bring lot's of tunning oil because its getting hot :)
4. #1 Jewis wedding does not require a Rabbi
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & NY   (06.16.11)
These Jews are not renouncing the Jewish life by doing this they are renouncing the Rabbinate that a monopoly on marriage here in Israel. People object to having to pay off a Rabbi to come and bless G-d on their behalf. There are 3 ways a person can be married under Jewish law: 1- Marriage by signing a Ketubah 2 - Saying one simple phrase in the presence of 2 wirinesses 3 - Living publicly as man and wife None requires a Rabbi. Option #2 is so bad that when 2 elementary school kids did it they were required to have a formal divorce (complete with a Get) before the age of 9. Thus these people will have no problem with their kids being Jewish.
5. Forcing people to adhere to a certain regime always
Al   (06.16.11)
is a dicey proposition. Lets be honest with ourselves. people want to live their lives as they see fit. If that means they will go abroad and marry civilly, well so be it. What the future will bring is anyones guess. As it is, Israel (The Jewish People)will weather the storm as Israel has over the past 2000 years. The Jews will continue irrespective of what happens in the short term. The short of it is you cant mandate whom anyone loves, and with whom they wish to live. The nation really has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.
6. did it
oliver ,   eilat   (06.16.11)
got married there 16yrs ago,and no rabbinical nonsence involed,this is so good that there is a way under cut the rabbis control on our existance
7. To @1
Oscar ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.16.11)
So you are telling us that Israel is not a democratic country?
8. Cyprus
civil marriage ,   Civil Marriage, CM   (06.16.11)
Ironically lebanese who want to wed without the interference of church or mosque go to Cyprus too. Wow
9. so tell me again why do these israelis wanna go elsewhere
(06.17.11)
to get married, when thye can do it in the holy land, where others in the world would be honored to do so at any or all costs if they had the opportunity to make it as holy as possible?
10. #4 & #7
American Sabrah   (06.16.11)
#4. Technically, you are right. The 3 options that you mentioned are vital components to a Jewish wedding.But its not black and white as you think it is.The ketubah must be reviewed and signed by an Orthodox rabbi. He doesn't have to be haredi. I won't deny that the Rabbinate is corrupt and being manipulated by haredim who have their own agenda to push. The accepted custom is to have a rabbi to officiate a wedding.You can have a well respected prominent community figure who is knowledgeable about the halachic intricacies of a wedding as well. There needs to be 7 valid witnesses present at a wedding and they are not allowed to be related to the bride or the groom and/or to each other. #7: Israel was never a democracy to begin with.Granted, we may have more rights and freedoms than those living in the predominate middle eastern Muslim countries.Israel is governed by socialistic principles ; at least in comparison to the USA which is more of a Republic. I believe that Jews who wish to get married should have a Jewish wedding. A civil marriage would be more appropriate for Gentiles.
11. To No.1
Rabbi Abrahan Selano ,   Tinbalia   (06.17.11)
The fact that to get divorse the husband has to give his wife a GET(divorce doccument), which is the case regarding civil weddings, is what qualifies that the marrige is accepted by the jewish law(Halacha). Marrieage between a jew and a gentile is not a valid marrige according to the jewish law, therefore the marrige is not valid even is the couple has a jewish wedding). Mariage between two jews (man and woman) is ALWAYS an accepted marrige according to the jewish law, even if they didn't have any kind of ceremony, this is determinated by the fact that in order for the woman to marrie someone else, the man has to give her a GET(divorse doccument), this is even right for forbbiden marriges according to the jewish law, such as the marriage of a Cohen and aa divoresee or a convert; their marriage will be valid, but the husband has the obligation to divorse her. Regarding the childre, this has nothing to do with wedding in jewish law, a jew is the daughter or son of a a jewish woman or a person that converted to judaism. Childree of single jewish mothers or children of couples married by civil marriage or any other kind of union are Kosher and don't have any kind of halachical problem. By the way, the father doesn't have to be jewish, just the mother.
12. non-halachic marrage avoids mamzerim
mike ,   chicago   (06.17.11)
I am not sure what you mean by illegitimate, but mamzerim can only be the result of adultery or incest. Most commonly a valid marriage followed by civil divorce. Adultery requires a halachik marriage with good witnesses etc. It seems to me that a civil union or marriage rather than a kiddushin al pi halacha will reduce mamzarim
13. To American Sabrah
Shai ,   Modiin   (06.17.11)
The point is you misrepresented the facts. The children are not "illegitimate". They are so ONLY when the marriage is legally recognized and the wife has a child by a different man during that marriage. And for Gentiles or not, there are no civil marriages in Israel. That's why so many go to Larnaca! As far as your comments regarding democracy, the USA is not the only type of democracy, and you'll find even more democratic democracies in Scandanavia. Israel IS a democracy as long as each citizen can vote, and is not less so because its socialistic (past) parliamentary structure. It does have shortfalls, such as no direct representation by district, and no civil marriage, but it does not make it "never a democracy to begin with".
14. marriage in Israel
Denise Shmulovitch ,   UK   (06.17.11)
I married in Israel over twenty years ago and it was a wonderful simple ceremony without much fuss.It was not a big deal to go to the Rabbanut and it was all worth it.Still married.Those who go to marry in Cyprus are mainly going there because they are technically not Jewish or definitely not Jewish.Those who are 100% Jewish could have just as simple a wedding by marrying in Israel they just think it sounds more rebellious or fashionable to say that they are maarrying in Cyprus.
15. A rabbi at my wedding? Never.
Michael ,   California, USA   (06.17.11)
Although I have heard there are now "liberal" rabbis in Israel who conduct weddings with a very friendly demeanor, I still wouldn't go to one. I was told there are rabbis who do it for free now, and still it would be too much of a pain for me to face a rabbi. Of course a rabbi could be a respected guest at a wedding, but I would not stand it to have a rabbi in a position of authority. I married in a court in front of a judge, outside of Israel, of course. But what pisses me off the most is the vote against civil weddings not long ago by Israel Beiteinu in the Knesset. Those hypocrites should be made to conduct religious Jewish weddings where they will suffer the hatred people feel toward formal rabbis.
16. #3 - I was married in Aradipou
William ,   Israel   (06.17.11)
The mayor had glasses an inch thick. They were very professional about it and we spent the rest of the weekend on the beach enjoying our mini-honeymoon. The Rabbinal Court in Israel is so corrupt and oppressive that after 1 year of being extorted and dealing with unnecessary delays, we chose the Cyprus option. There was no issue of our Jewishness or lifestyle, it was just plain Rabbinical obstacles. Until this is fixed, so cronyism isn't rampant in the system, Cyprus remains a viable option. BTW - our marriage was also Jewishly sanctified by having a private ceremony and announcing our intentions in front of two witnesses. End of story.
17. #7 - Europe has democratic countries...
William ,   Israel   (06.17.11)
and aren't Muslims ruled by the same religious edicts regarding marriage? If two Muslims are married in Berlin city hall, will it be recognized by the Islamic court?
18. does that mean that arabs and jews can get married and
Ester   (06.18.11)
live in Israel legally as wife and husband?
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