the majority if the "freedom-seeking public" wanted "civile union" then knesset would of voted for it the fact that knesset didn'y vote for it shows that israel dosn't want "civile union" and want to stay with marrige

Come to Canada where you have that right.

Apparently, what goes on in the Knesset doesn't necessarily have very much to do with what the majority of Israelis want. As usual, the politicians acted in a way that was cravenly political. Hopefully, the voters will take note of that fact the next time there's an election.

Come to Canada .....and intermarry ! Great ! And what about the Jewish people ?

Alot of secular people HATED marrying with the rabbanut but had no choice. Our politicians have failed us again.

does that mean there can't be another option? What about a minority who is stuck with no protection under the law? Just because the majority doesn't care about their interests doesn't make it right,

I only wish those fools could read the threads and reader posts on this website. Israel is a country so racist, so intellectually and spiritually backward, it beggars belief. The citizens of no civlilized society on Earth would put up with the nonsense outlined in this article.

"Fifty-nine MKs voted against Rotem's bull"... This is a Jewish State. The Knesset respected the Jewish tradition. Something to be proud of.

There are Jews living in Canada. The bottom line is that in a free country, every Jew should have the right to choose the kind of marriage they want to have. The vast majority of Jews in Israel are in favor of civil marriage, so who does the Israeli government represent? There is no democracy in Israel.

because the "majority" of Israel want Olmert as PM, Barak as defence minister, Shas bleeding the treasury dry AGAIN, and a ministry of religious affairs revived. Everyone knows that MKs are simply serving the will of the people.

Dear Israelis, Just because we don't want Orthodox control over our ceremonies, doesn't mean we want to intermarry or not be Jewish. Israel needs a national referendum on this topic: Do you want a civil marriage option or a Masorti/Reform rabbi to be able to conduct a legal Israeli marriage ceremony? Let's get organized!

When did you poll the Israeli public ? How do you know it ? I'm a SECULAR , and am in favor for a Jewish wedding . Now don't deny that Begalut there are'nt many and many intermarriages . I lived more than you can imagine in Europe before making alyah , so i know . What are the statistics of intermarriage in the USA ? very high , no ?

Charles, at least 50% of Jews in America are inermarrying, the numbers are actually much higher but the "Reform" count Goyim as if they were Jews so an exact count is difficult.

The "new immigrant" card should not have been played. Many Israelis have a bad taste in their mouths from the many negative changes anti-Jewish olim have caused here, and backlash is sure to have played a role here. It is no secret that the Orthodox death grip on marriage ceremonies is based more on self-serving economic interests than on spiritual integrity. For years already, sabar Jews have run off to other countries to wed, and will continue to do so.

from the religious monopoly. They "chickened out". I'm not so sure Israel is a "real democracy". It's a hybrid, to be sure, of theocracy / democracy. It is certainly not a Republic, otherwise this would not continue to go on and on. The people would have other recourse for their needs, if that was what they truely wanted. Israeli's will need to strengthen and support the SHINUI party if they want real change in these religion / state issues. Israeli secular Jews might want to look more toward American Jews, who are more ferocious, and more powerful on these issues of seperation of state and religion.

not by religion ..men are against the iterest of women .. but the truth that the men do not know the interest of women .. as iam a woman i prefer the marriage to be under a law and any law that the court can defened the family at first the women then lastly the guys

Masorti / Reform rabbis' performing legal marriages may be a most economical and popular option. They can fulfill the need , are already trained, and the money they receive will not flow only in one direction. That is, it will flow more evenly through different sectors of Israeli society to the benefit of Israeli citizens, by how these Masorti / Reform Rabbi's spend it. Simple supply and demand. Macro-economics 101

In the USA you have a high % of intermarriage . What kind of Jews will survive there ? The Orthodox and a mixture of reform and other easyly converts with 1/2 Jews 1/4 , 1/8 and at the end not jewish at all . Well this , i don't want it here . I see that a reform Jew is more in favor for civil wedding than a 100 % Jewish Israeli secular atheist .

I disagree with almost everything that you have said in the past. Maybe this is because I consider myself to be a part of the religious right whilst you it seems are a secularist. With this in mind I'd like to ask you why you are so in favour of a Jewish marriage, especially by an Orthodox Rabbi? It baffles me as to why some people call themselves secular yet cling on with a "religious fervour," to some semblance of their religion. Why not denounce that you are secular, cleave to your Jewish roots and then I would completely understand why you are so opposed to a non-Jewish marriage in Eretz Yisrael? Wishing only true ahava to all my fellow holy Jews.

I wasn't referring to intermarriages at all, Charles. But then, your definition may be a little different than mine. I would rather see a Jewish wedding ceremony anytime. But comming from the US, I believe people deserve the right to choose for themselves. To me, religion must be voluntary. Otherwise, where is the sincerity ? The nefesh ? The neshemah ?

I do not favor a Jewish Orthodox marriage out of Religious views , but more because i do not want to see the Jewish people disappear , the secular part of it . And this is part of me being Jewish . Adam , when i got married , it was Begalut , i had the choice , and for me it was natural that there was no problem , only a Orthodox Rabbi . By acting so there were no problems for my children , they are 100 % Jewish too .

Did not Moses marry the duaghter of a Midian? He also married a cushite. Throughout the Torah, wives were taken from various cultures. In only some instances were intermarriage forbidden. If the Rabbis recognized the true body of Am Israel and all the tribes and didn't limit their acceptance to only Orthodox ceremonies not supported in Torah, I would say this is ok. But they reject so many Jews. Such as the secular, conservative, and reform. These are Jews also. Rather they have left huge numbers of God's sheep to wander uncared for. They drive many away to return to the spiritually dead. rejected by those who you would assume were all about "chose life". To seek refuge with the goyim? Does anyone else but me think that God will hold them highly accountable for this? What do the Rabbis gain from harming God's people and the true decendants of those joined to Am Israel? Is it as I have stated that they need to control marriages as part of a cult? For you were gereem in Mtzriam. Enough of the Babylonian cult being accepted. Rabbis, you must return to Hashem.

to your christian country , church , with your beloved jesus . Stay out of Israel , we don't need missionaries as you are here , go .

, nor my savior. Can you say that Charles. A missionary cannot say this and you can't say it, so who is the missionary here. Has it occurred to you that when you call me a missionary in a derogatory way, you are in essence denying YOUR Jesus. If you do believe in Jesus and this is why you can't deny him, then in your religion you have done a great sin by inadvertently saying a soldier for Jesus is something derogatory. I noticed you have not used the “atheist” in describing yourself after I pointed out it is a denial of Jesus. You are really afraid to deny this false god, aren't you? Jesus is not the only corruption to Torah. Seems every religion is in the game of testing the Jews and adding to it against the rules. On the issue of Marriages Fact is the Rabbis want to be loved while they destroy the lives of so many. How devastating to couples in love who cannot follow their dreams because a Rabbi states, you are conservative and we don't accept them as Jews. Or this family must marry such and such from this family. They impose rules basically saying if you wont do our Babylonian rituals and say our Babylonian incantations the way we want them, you can't marry. Anyone who loves God knows Torah calls for an orginal prayer and forbids magic. So basically if one really loves God and cannot accept Babylonian additions, they are left out in the cold. Will this stand under heaven? Will it be fuel to the sins of Israel and bring on another war, holacaust, or worse? The monopoly they have created is a result of friars not recognizing how to take Torah for themselves. If they truly loved God, would they not seek it out themselves as Torah calls upon them to do? As stated in the Torah and therefore an obligation for Am Israel: It is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven, so that you could say, "Who can go up to heaven and bring it for us, so that we can hear it and keep it?" Nor is it across the sea, so that you could say, "Who will cross the sea and take it for us, so that we can hear it and keep it?" Rather, the matter is very close to you - in your mouth and in your heart - so that you can keep it. (Devarim, Deuteronomy 30:11-14) Thus the "who" discussed here is equal to the Rabbis and the "you" is the individuals of Am Israel who are not to say another must get Torah for them. The people think it is hidden and only the Rabbis can reveal it. This is a mistake. Go and get you Torah. Go and find Your God Am Israel. All of Am Israel. All the abandon sheep and all the misled sheep. Not just the Rabbis selection.

Not by writing something here , as you are a liar , nothing you write is believable . No , bring a paper from a serious Rabbi , not a fake or this one you bought . Untill then , you are a goy for me , an ugly disgusting hatefull one . I have never seen a TRUE jew citing jesus so many times as you do . I have never seen a TRUE jew being so hatefull and disgusting as you are . I have never seen a TRUE Jewish being such a liar as you are . I have never seen ....i can go a long way so , This all proves that you are NOT a JEW , only a fake one , but a true christian missionary .

Very few in the Knesset are interested in civil rights. They are interested primarily in themselves, and afterwards in their own political agendas. That is why we need a constitution, to give us our minimum rights, of which one is the right to marry without having to deal with any relgious constraints. Once again the AYE-tollas have it.

Absolutely correct. What is needed ia a change in the entire government structure there. Why did the Israelis emulate the Brits? Why couldn't Israel come up with something better?

Welcome, Orthodox Rabbis to marry gay couples as they should be allowed to marry in their homeland, legally in the eyes of their faith that they cherish..

What a sad irony that, in many ways, Jewish people are granted more religious freedom in other countries than we are in our own homeland. Reflects poorly on the status of Israel's democracy and is a big turn off for many who would otherwise consider aliya - creates an unnecessary obstacle to the "ingathering", is disrespectful of klal yisrael, and is one reason Israel is losing important support of the younger generations of diaspora Jews - who, don't fool yourself, do an awful lot to keep Israel afloat. If the Israeli gvt, JA, and other "establishment" Jewish organisations are serious about attracting/retaining the next generations of Jews, in and out of Israel, they best open their minds and hearts a bit more and allow for a tad more diversity.