'List of bastards is kept at the Rabbinate' (Archive photo)
Photo: CD Bank
Banned from marrying
Israeli Rabbinate rules: 'Without knowing who your father is, you will not be permitted to marry'
Some 45,000 Israeli citizens labeled "shtuki" by the Rabbinate are not permitted to marry, as the identity of their fathers is unknown. Some 10,000 of these persons are defined as "bastards", the majority of whom are minors. These are the findings of a survey conducted by New Family, an organization dedicated to advancing family rights and the rights of individuals within families. The survey was conducted ahead of the International Child Rights Day commencing November 20th.
Findings show that some 3,500 children labeled "shtuki" are born in Israel every year, 2,800 of whom are born to single parents. These children do not know the identity of their biological fathers, either by choice of their single mothers or because their mothers don't know the identity of the father. In some cases, these children were born from sperm donations and in such cases, the identity of the father will never be known.
According to the organization, these children eventually discover that they are not permitted to marry according to the Israeli Rabbinate's rulings. Persons unable to identify their fathers while registering for marriage are sent to the rabbinical court where a prolonged procedure is carried out and that doesn't always end with authorization to marry.
Irit Rosenblum, advocate, founder and chairperson of New Family, says these children are listed in the Rabbinate's black books for the rest of their lives. Contrary to this argument, sources at Israel's Rabbinate say the "shtuki" are not prohibited from marrying. "When a mother is single, the identity of the father is irrelevant and the child is deemed kosher for all purposes and intent," they say. Concerning married women, the Israeli Rabbinate doesn't look for bastards, unless the woman herself testifies that she had given birth out of wedlock."
Eli Ben Dahan, Director of the Rabbinical Court said Sunday that "the list of bastards is kept at the Rabbinate and that it is highly confidential. The list includes less than 50 names. Israel does not have a list of "shtuki."
Chaim Levinson contributed to this report
