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צילום: ויז'ואל/פוטוס
Economic crisis leads to fewer marriages in Tel Aviv
City's Rabbinate reports drastic drop in marriage in last three months of 2008, reversing continuing rising trends. Total number of marriages last year similar to end of 2007, leaving Religious Council's chairman pleased with results
The steady rise in the number of marriages performed in Tel Aviv in the past three years came to a halt in 2008, the city's Religious Council reported on Thursday, presenting data showing a drastic drop in the number of couples to tie the knot in the last three months of 2008.
Council sources blamed the change in trends on the current economic crisis.
A Tel Aviv Rabbinate summary of 2008 showed no change in the total number of couples registering for marriage from 2007, which stood at 3,450.
A closer look at the results however, revealed that up until August, a 15% rise in marriage was noted, and a new record of over 4,000 registered marriages was expected by the end of the year – until the economic crisis broke out and reversed the trend.
According to the religious council, while many couples changed their venues to more moderate locations such as synagogues and private homes, others went as far as to cancel their wedding after already registering.
The report showed that the difference between the number of couples registering for marriage and the number of actual weddings performed in the city in 2008 was 70, with most of the cancellations between September and December.
Tel Aviv religious council Chairman Eldad Mizrahi told Ynet, "We can never prove this is the reason, but I have no doubt that the economic crisis is what caused the change in trends. It was a dramatic drop compared to every other year and according to all standards."
According to Mizrahi, starting from 2005 a steady rise in the number of marriages performed was recorded, with a total increase of 25% in three years. The trend also continued for most of 2008, but the decrease in the last three months managed to cancel out the increase.
An examination of the data showed that most Tel Aviv couples getting married chose to do so in the third and fourth decades of their lives, with 50% of newlyweds being under the age of 30, 45% being between the ages 30 – 40, and only 5% over the age of 40.
Out of the total number of people registering for marriage in 2008, 640 were widows or widowers and only 25 were divorced. Sixty percent of the to-be newlyweds were Sephardic Jews and 40% were Ashkenazi.
Despite the fact that no rise was recorded in 2008, Mizrahi was pleased with the steady date, saying, "The divorce rate continues to rise, and in this dubious field Tel Aviv is at the top of the list in Israel.
"Naturally, the fear of divorce would deter many who considered getting married, and considering the situation we are certainly please that the number of marriages has not declined."
