News  Magazine
In Israel, no such thing as a civil marriage
The Media Line
Published: 12.06.13, 19:47
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
29 Talkbacks for this article
1. Since when is getting married a "right" ?
Jake ,   USA   (06.12.13)
2. Regarding civil marriages
Alex   (06.12.13)
I think civil marriages should be there only for people who can't marry under any religious circumstances, like gays. Marriage per say is a religious practise, if people don't like that, they might just aswell skip it alltogether.
3. Civil marriages and the satmar rebbe
Robert ,   Antwerp Belgium   (06.12.13)
Strange enough, the satmar rebbe did not want the state of Israƫl to perform religious marriages just because of that kind of problems. His opinion was that the state could only perform civil marriages and that religious marriages would be a separate occasion performed by Rabbis. He might have been right on this point
4. #1,2:What a swell pair you are! Since the denial of marriage
tom ,   tel aviv   (06.12.13)
is based on purely religious (irrational) grounds, it is by any definition in my restricted vocabulary, an act of discrimination when no alternative is provided by the State. Please don't send me to bloody Cyprus!
5. #2 marriage is NOT a religious practice!
Ed ,   Canada   (06.12.13)
Who told you it was a religious practice? Look it up in Wikipedia or something. Marriage is a social practice. Look at normal countries in the world. And breakfast is not religious practice - it's just food. And death is not religious practice - it's a human "practice". And a government is a group of god-given rulers. In Europe and North America nothing bad happened to religion - there are millions happily practicing their religion, and get married in religious ceremonies. At the same time, millions get married in the city hall. Nothing bad happened. Why can't Israel be a bit less like Iran and a bit more like developed countries? Don't tell me because Israel is a Jewish country. Switzerland is a Swiss country, and no religion is forces on people there.
6. #1: If you are Jewish, it is a command!
Israeli 2   (06.12.13)
The 1st commandment.
7. No MONOPOLY please.
Israeli 2   (06.12.13)
Everybody can get married and they have a choice based upon the woman's wishes. 1) Strictly Orthodox with all its rules 2) Civil Marriage with only government rules or........ 3) G-d's marriage ---- Just procreate How is that coming from the Rebbe?
8. #1
Northern   (06.12.13)
Since when is it not? Marriage is a legal contract between two adults, giving them certain rights and responsibilities. If you're a tax paying, military serving citizen in a country that offers such contract to people, how is it not a right? It's like asking "Since when is using a public beach a right?"
9. #2
Northern   (06.12.13)
No, marriage is not a religious practice. It is a social practice, and for some people, it is a religious practice, but generally, It has several aspects. Here, what we discuss is the legal aspect of marriage (That is, the legal contract that grants certain privileges and responsibilities). Religious/social sides of marriage are not a matter of legislation anyway. It's not illegal to have a ceremony with whatever religious authority you want. The only problem is the legal recognition, which is purely the legal side of marriage.
10. #3
Northern   (06.12.13)
He couldn't possibly be more right on it. That's how it's supposed to be.
11. #5
Alex   (06.12.13)
Just because western society have started to practise it as a secular practise doesn't make it a non-religious rooted practise, it has its origin in religions. The real secular version of marriage is registered partership. And no, I'm not even religious myself. And I would like to see other branches of Judaism than orthodox be allowed to perform marriages in Israel.
12. #11
Northern   (06.12.13)
As I said in my post, marriage is not necessarily a religious practice, but a cultural one. Religion is often part of the culture, so the two merge. I know many secular people who don't care about religion, but still enjoy the tradition of a wedding ceremony. I am an atheist and I know I'm going to have a nice wedding ceremony with friends and family when I decide to settle down. Why do I care what the origin of it is? Today, it's a cultural thing, and a legal one. Not just religious. It's like the Gregorian calendar. True, it counts years since the supposed birth of Jesus Christ, but you don't need to be a Christian to use it.
13. Gays weddings on the horizon
desi ,   mars   (06.12.13)
for sure. EVERYBODY knows Israel looooove gays.... right?? ....
14. #13:If one has a life then surely one doesn't start to hyper
tom ,   tel aviv   (06.12.13)
ventilate at the thought of gay, or whatever with whomever marriage. For all I care, if you find a willing "minister" you can marry a lamp post.
15. to #2 Alex
Bluegrass Picker ,   Afula   (06.13.13)
you clearly know zero about the origin of licensure-of-marriage. Don't worry, I am the guy who knows how to do arbitrage ("exploit") as against people who don't know the facts. Enjoy your life.
16. a Jewish state? not exactly...
avramele   (06.13.13)
More like an Iranian state! Civil marraige will not divide the Jewish people - it will simply start a cottage industry in geneological registries catering to the orthodox and haredi communities. Entrepreneurs like naftali bennett will make a fortune and the rest of us will register and celebrate our marraiges as we choose.
17. #6
PK ,   TL   (06.13.13)
I'm a Jew, by blood, a non-religious one, but still a Jew. So even though I'm Jewish I cannot marry and have a civil ceremony without any rabbis present. It is my command that this absurd law be changed.
18. #8, Marriage is a contract. No state required.
Jake ,   USA   (06.13.13)
The state shouldn't be marrying people at all. They do it for revenues. The issue would be completely avoided if the state stayed out of people's lives.
19. 18
Northern   (06.13.13)
Good point. Then, let's abolish state supported marriage altogether. But while it's still there, it should be for everyone.
20. Financial pressure
JHK ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (06.13.13)
If, as a tax payer, I am supposed to receive all religious services from the State. If the Rabbanut refuses to marry me or what ever reason - I would sue the State for the return of that portion of my taxes for services I did receive. I suggest all of the couples who had to marry in Cyprus invoice the Rabbanut for the cost of their trip and ceremony.
21. A society limited by a religious law is NOT a true democracy
Yored ,   Galuth   (06.13.13)
Either a democracy or a Halachistan.
22. Goyim, not good
Pablo ,   jerusalem   (06.13.13)
goyim not good enough to get married but good enough to serve in the military, uh? isn't that a bit discriminatory?
23. #4 Tom: I agree with you completely but another question?
Dee Bee ,   Israel   (06.13.13)
If marriage is such a wonderful institution, why do so many land up in the divorce court? In the Christian world people pledge until "death do us part". Maybe that should be "until, death or the judge do us part"? The only real reason for marriage is to legitimize children and for people of the cloth, caterers and halls to make a fortune!
24. #23:I could agree with you, that like Life itself, marriage
tom ,   tel aviv   (06.13.13)
is largely overrated. Still it's the best shot we've got at leading a "regulated" life in most civilized societies. Everyone has the right to commit this mistake at least once, right? :-)
25. On Civil Marriage Israel More Religiously Fascist than Iran
Danny ,   US   (06.26.13)
The Islamic Republic of Iran has civil marriage. Israel does not. What does that say about Israel? At least on this issue, Israel is more religiously fascist than Iran. Iran is clearly not the country of choice for a more positive outlook than Israel on religious matters.
26. Israel still not yet a true democracy
Haim ,   TA   (07.01.13)
Regarding marriage laws Israel ranks along side Afghanistan and Iran. It is every persons basic human right to marry the person of their choice regardless of natioionality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Its way due that Israel seperated state from religion and allowed people to choose themselves what is meaningful for them. Instead we are dictated to by a bunch of corrupt so called religious leaders who force their medevil religious views on the majority of citizens in all aspects of life. Apparently their religious status quo is so fragile that anyother way is is considered a threat to them when we all know its about making money, It is an abuse of human rights that thousands are denied the right to marry in the country they live in , serve in the army and pay taxes.
27. civil marriages
levi   (07.09.13)
i am ultra ortho rabbi. it is true that civil marriages aren't democratic. but 100% democracy isn't good for morality
28. religious democracies
Piotr Berman ,   State College, USA   (07.23.13)
Iran and Lebanon, and pretty soon Egypt have elections with multiple parties etc., so a model of "non-western" democracies may be valid. If the majority likes to give a major role to clerics, it should be able to do so. It is just a bit weird.
29. Marriage has become obsolete anyway
mea   (08.03.13)
This story sort of fails to address another aspect of the argument--marriage is becoming obsolete across the western world and ignoring the wishes of most of your citizens only undergirds the deterioration of the union. When you can marry your mailbox or cat, what's the point? I abhor that Israel fails so awfully in this department. Time to get out of the stranglehold by the religious on Israel's "democracy" and fathom that creating a "middle class" of marriages will actually help save the traditional institution.
Back to article