Like Health & Safety in the UK - The Jewish Religious Authority gone to extreme Madness - Without knowing the actual true facts - The Israeli Rabbinate should have consideration and compassion - I am not here to judge - Only God Above look at all the people on this earth regardless of Colour or believe - We are all born alike and we are going to leave this earth alike - What you and I believe may not be the same But - God look down on all of us and give us strength to the end

She's asking for a legal wedding. To be legally wedded with her fiance. How they decide to perform the wedding is their own business, but they're denied the right to be legally registered as married.

As a father myself, your father is to blame. I uprooted my two sons from Paris and prevented them from getting free high education and Roman Catholic French Goddesses and affordable housing. They went straight to the army, completed their service. In fact my youngest is Major in reserve duty. They paid for and completed their University degrees in Israel. They eventually met their Jewish wives in Israel, although not the French beauty bombshell, but Jewish! It did not happen by accident. It was a careful calculated plan to ensure that my Jewish sons marry with Jewish girls period.

You encouraged many people from the former SU to settle in Israel. You knew that many were not halakhic Jews. Now it is time to sort this issue out. You either allow Civil Marriage or make it easier to convert but you cannot have it both ways.

As an Arab I am not surprised at all by this ; we all know that the one & only reason that keeps all Jews united- despite their differences over original geographical location - is their common feeling of hostility toward Arabs in general and neighboring arab countries in particular . Ashkenazi , Sephardi, Falasha , Mizra'chi, Lost Tribe , etc... And to me as an Arab I still prefer to live in Jerusalem simply and only because arab regimes are not any better than Israel . I hope the truth does not hurt you guys...

I think that two things should be distinctly separated: 1) I can accept if they have a problem with the fact that there is no option for a Civil Ceremony in the State of Israel. From a socioeconomic point of view I understand that mixed couples, or homosexual couples would like all the benefits of marriage, as well as the sentiment. 2) However, I don't think anyone can criticize the Rabbinate, because they are the supreme Jewish religious governing body in the state of Israel. Again, I would like to state, RELIGIOUS body. No one is criticizing the Pope for not allowing Catholics to marry people of other faiths....

A Reform ceremony IS a religious ceremony, just not an Orthodox (dati) one!

As a Presbyterian Christian, should I force a Catholic church to marry me even though I am not part of their sect? Should a Catholic insist on a Mormon marriage, or a Baptist a Jewish marriage? Likewise, if you're not a Jew by the legal definition, are unwilling to convert, and can marry via a reform ceremony as the article states, then why insist on having a religious ceremony? While a few may disagree I am convinced that marriage itself truly does not depend on the ceremony who recognizes it, but only the recognition of the Holy One. And if your marriage is accepted by him, then it matters not who on earth accepts it or not.

Right!

Her and so many more immigrants from the former USSR are not Jewish and will openly confess to it. The huge wave of Russian and Eastern European 'Jews' in the 90's is a major problem which can only be attributed to weak leadership. The mass feelings felt by Israeli Jews regarding eventual the perceived future demographic shifts with the Muslim population triggered a quick, immature and disastrous political decision. The government wanted to ship over as many 'Jews' as possible especially before the upcoming elections in 1992. There are no official statistics but it is estimated that over a third of those immigrants are not Jewish. I have spoken to many Eastern-European immigrants who have confirmed that fake documentation is easily available. Personally, I believe maybe 50% or more are not Jewish. We know her mother is not Jewish, I would like to speculate that there is a high chance her father might not be completely Jewish either! Don't forget, many of those immigrants came for financial benefits and as a method of escape/freedom, so their motives are not based on ethnicity (being Jewish). Certainly marriage in Israel is flawed. Civil marriages should be adopted. Also, Eastern- European immigrants are largely productive citizens who have a higher moral code than many native Israelis. However, this state must remain a Jewish state and strict halacha should be the only source to determine whether an individual is Jewish.

Jews and non-jews serve TOGETHER in the army,with the same obligations and rights. But non-jews killed in combat cannot be buried with jews. Non jews cannot get married in Israel. For me ,a jew according to the Halacha,this is wrong and must be changed. There should be a clear separation beetween State laws and religious laws if we expect to live in a truly democratic country and be a light upon the nations.

Most talkbackers are missing the poiint. It's NOT about allowing her to marry in aJewish ceremony it's about providing an avenue for citizens such as her to marry within Israel. Israel has an obligation to all it's citizens, not only Jewish ones. If Israel allowed her to become a citizen it should also provide the same institutions such as marriage. I think it's a shame that so many people so easily accept and giver her advice to just "go to Cyprus".

This lady considers herself jewish because: (1) her grandmother is a Holocaust survivor, (2) she serves in IDF, (3) she lives in Israel since she was a child, and (4) her father is jewish. Someone please show me anywher in jewish religious literature where any of the above characterize someone as jewish?

Just because she is a good contributor to the state of Israel does not mean she should be accepted by the rabbinical authority.

My young daughter had Conservative conversion but became involved in the Orthodox community several times each week for years. This included giving thousands of dollars of her own money. However when she asked the Rabbi for a simple affirmation of her involvement, but not of her conversion, she was told she was simply a non-Kosher restaurant and the Rabbi could not do it. Needless to say, our Gentile money has dried up too.

but just like any "legal system, " Judiam is a legal system with specific definitions. It's not a question of this special woman not being good enough, it's about status. And it's known that one needs a Jewish mother to be consider Jewish. Perhaps if Judiasm is so important to her, if being a " 100% kosher" part of the Jewish people is so important than, being that she is obviously such a brave soldier, she should not be afraid to fight for what she wants and become a full fledged Jew by going through the process of conversion. I know i would because i am a "baale thuvia." This is an option that is open to her. But if she is not interested, than perhaps the legal status was accurate...

There is not reason to not allow civil ceremonies in Israel. There are Christians who live there, Muslims who live there. It's a democracy. The Orthodox Rabbinate can continue to have a monopoly on Jewish marriages (although there are many issues of rabbinical abuse of power with that too). But, what is so wrong with allowing a civil ceremony which is all this poor woman wants?

One can live in Israel, the Jewish state as Jewish, christian or Muslim. For true happiness one should marry his/hers own kind. Jewish marriage is for Jewish people. She can marry a catholic legally in Israel This is a makeup story to attack the Israeli Rabbinate without justification. Mrs. Margolis is simply wrong.

She does deserve a lot of credit for her service to the nation and sounds like a great person whom I would be proud to be friends with. There is an issue however because she is not Jewish according to halacha. Israel is a Jewish nation that does base marriage according to halacha. Personally, I moved to Israel as a teenager, served proudly in the army and got married in Israel. When I went to the Rabanute, I had to proove my Jewish background which was not a problem as I can trace my Jewish roots on all sides of the family back many generations. If for any reason it would have been, I would have done what would be required including going through conversion if that is part of the deal. I hope that this couple gets through their problems and hope that they can do things according to halacha and raises a Jewish family in Eretz Yisrael.

A stain on Zionism and Israeli democracy. Israel is the only democracy where who your mother was or who converted you determines who you are allowed to marry. Reading some of the remarks here from the arrogant religious zealots.I could not help but think of South Africa. There the whites were the chosen ones who did not want to dirty their genes with unworthy kaffirs.

is an option,Jewish couples who worry about their children s future, opt for Halahic marriage. In Israel the State has taken upon itself to preserve Israeli children from headaches when choosing their life partner . I know a Secular Israeli boy who fell in love with a girl whose father only is Jewish , He will marry her ,but with a very heavy heart ,since his [Secular] parents are unhappy about that. Young couples should think if it is not worth to do the needed steps for the Hupah. Does Ms.Margulis want for her children same problem as hers?

Romain Gary was denied an initial invitation to a ceremony in Israel when it was realized that he wasn't fully jewish. You know what he said: a few years ago, the nazis wouldn't been so picky. To me she is Jewish, more that so called real Jews who are helping Palestinians against Jews. Period!

When one asks a non-Jew to identify which Jewish stream seems most authentic usually they identify orthodox, as well as know the most about, even just in the description of how a Jew looks, be it payot or tzisit or long coats and funny hats etc. This is no surprise and due to there adherence to halacha and mesorah. When you begin allowing those that pick and choose the "nice" customs and traditions as they see fit and change it to fit their "modern" liberal and pluralistic lifestyle rather then following the very laws and tradition they claim to represent you destroy the foundation and create an anything goes atmosphere. The choice of leaving Jewish marriage to the orthodox rabbinate is obvious and clear as their standards of acceptance are the acceptable minimum for being considered Jewish. They are, your mother was jewish and so are you, or you converted with a known and accepted bet din.

A Reform ceremony is a religious ceremony. Mazal tov to the bride and groom and thank you for serving our country responsibly and willingly.

and totally shameful. these things are happening in muslim countries. the nation owes BIG TIME to that young lady, and anyone involved in that atrocity should be a shame of themselves! MAZEL TOV TO YOU RITA AND TO YOUR HUSBAND TO BE! A LOT OF US ARE PROUD OF YOU!

The reason why there is a rule of matrilineal judaism is because one can prove that the child of a woman is actually her child before blood tests were available. Now they are. And the rabbinate is clinging to this rule why? To solidify their cruel dictatorship over the Jewish people. The rabbinate is too lazy and stupid to be considered good Jews.

nt

The journalist refers to the couple's future marriage as Reform, not religious. How insulting! I understand thr Hebrew behind the mistaken terminology, but to be "dati" in Israel is to be Orthodox, not religious. My experience is that there is no necessary relationship between one's fulfillment of commandments and one's devotional posture toward God and God's creatures. Mazal tov to the couple and may they enjoy a deeply religious wedding and life together. Rabbi Shai Cherry

You cannot ask the rabbinate to marry you if you are not Jewish. They do not care if you are a religious Jew or not, just that you are Jewish according to Jewish law, which this lady is not. The issue is not religion here. Sad though it is, that is the way it is. There is no ecumenical alternative in Judaism and with no civil marriage options. regardless of the absurdities this brings. Israel need a civil marriage option. You may not agree with the rabbinates definition of who is a Jew , maternal descent and so on ( and it creates the absurd) but that is how it is in orthodoxy.

If she doesn't convert, her children will face the same issues!