Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
Ready for marriage?
Photo: Israel Bardugo
Rabbis support early marriages
Following statements by several rabbis who came out against teen marriages, other Zionist religious rabbis stress that early marriages are allowed, and in some cases favorable
Following recent statements by Zionist religious rabbis against teen marriages, other rabbis have made it clear that marriages at a young age are legitimate, and even favorable.
Three rabbis had published their views on the controversial matter in this week’s issue of the Komemiyut magazine.
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According to Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, head of the hesder yeshiva in Ramat Gan, it is recommended to wed at an early age, not necessarily at 18, but also not much later.
Rabbi Shapira explained that it was important to urge men and women to marry young, in order to battle the spreading phenomenon of late singlehood. “As people get older, their willingness to get married decreases, and it’s harder for them to achieve chemistry with members of the opposite sex,” he wrote.
Early marriages can also contribute to the problematic issues of modesty, purity and sacredness, which are so lacking in Israel, the rabbi stated. He stressed that despite considerations of concentrating on Torah studies, learning life skills and establishing the ability to provide for a family before tying the knot, the Halacha should still be followed to the letter.
No to marriage under pressure
Head of the Tzvia school network, Rabbi Eitan Eisman, concurred with Rabbi Shapira, and wrote, “A person who had found his spouse at a young age because he feels this is good and suitable for him, and as long as this is not the result of social or other pressure, can marry.”Eisman stated that not all people should be pressured to marry at an older age, because this delay might interfere with finding a partner. However, Rabbi Eisman agreed that “this mitzvah cannot be followed under pressure,” and said that it was permitted to wait several years, if a person feels he is still not ready for marriage.
“It’s clear that at 16 a boy should think of a wedding, but those who feel mature and ready can marry at 18,” he concluded.
Post-modern norms
Rabbi Pro Neriah Gottel, head of the Orot Israel College in Elkana, stressed that the debate about marriage cannot be separated from considerations such as education, average life expectancy, the universal age for marriage, fertility age, demographics, and people’s own wishes and desires.
Gottel said that in this day and age, rulings supporting marriage at a very young age cannot be adhered to, but stressed that, “Adopting post-modern norms that espouse an initiated and prolonged suspension of the age of marriage goes against the ways of the Torah.”
