Julie I am 100% Jewish from Jewish religious parents. I live a completely secular life and I left Israel for a variety of reasons, one of them was because of religious coercion I found hard to digest. If you regard Jewishness only as a religion you disregard the genetic and cultural non-religious heritage. I am a proud Jew that does not believe the same things you do.

because King David was placed in charge, not his appointee civil-service High Priest. This is a country of Hebrews - not Jews. Hartman: go back to NY. You are not welcome here.

when their parents don't get married by halacha , or when the mother get's a "conversion" not recognised by Orthodox Rabbanut . If they want to avoid the same problems for their children , she should convert . Not easy for her . What i dislike is the hate shown by some talkbackers , some even not far from disgusting .

I agree with you 100%. An Israeli soldier should be considered non-Jewish and a Benei Barak person that never did anything for the state of Israel except for naturally inseminating his wife should be considered 100% Jewish and the state of Israel should rely on them!! Also I am sure you have the moral stance and knowledge to declare 50% of the world's Jews as non-Jews and their marriages as fake.

The matrilineal concept is a Rabbinic innovation dating from the 1st/2nd centuries CE. Too many Jews are ignorant of the origins of Rabbinic Judaism, which is not in continuity with the religion of the Jewish people during the period of the Second Temple.

I don't get what the problem is. Why would she turn to the rabbinate if she is not jewish? Just because you are born in Israel your not jewish. There is a difference between state and religion. If she really cared she would ask why she has to be born to a jewish mother to be jewish herself. Does she not want to keep torah and mitzvot then she should definitly not convert and she can not marry a jew. End of story.

B"H Rita, if you'd like to be Jewish, if you like this idea, convert. Don't complain against the Jews who go by halacha. Army service is not relevant in Judaism, it is not a convertion. Quite the opposite in reality.

I assumed she is a good Israeli citizen, until she wrote that she may not go to reserve duty because she is not accepted as a Jew. What does one have to do with the other. If your commitment to Israel is predicated on being accepted as a Jew and you are not Jewish- you can change that and become Jewish. That is exactly why conversion is necessary. Either you are with us through thick and thin or you are not. I see you are not. If you want to be a Jew there is a process you go through, as you are not a Jew. An Israeli yes, but not a Jew. and if you do not want to go through the process - that shows something lacking about your commitment. Israel should not allow intermarriage- it is causing the destruction of the Jewish people in a peaceful manner. That is what the reformed movement did to Jews in the US and Europe. Rita, do you want to be part of that destruction? Put your ego aside and consider the real picture. Sorry you are disappointed- but you are not a Jew. Your father was,but I guess your mother is not. Either you want to join the people or you want to make a pretend marriage. and what about your children?

somewhat streamlined, but not abandoned, for people like Rita.

For sure .; But not according to the biblical law...so not according to G-D's LAW. BUT 'MAN MADE' LAW TO DISHONOR and make non effect G-D'S LAW. Read the family trees in the Bible.. to see it.

There should be an alternative if the person that wants to get married can't fulfil religious requirements ,...

It is created especially for people such as herself who's PARENTS are responsible for their lack of Jewish status... or is it that its easier to make noise and complain?

They have a monopoly on the marriage business to assure they can charge whatever fees they want. Why the government allows this perhaps someone living in Israel can tell us.

The story is certainly appalling, but what's even more appalling are the comments by some of the talkbackers here. Of the (at this point) 100 or so talkbacks, so many people didn't just agree with the system that doesn't allow Jews and non Jews to marry, but also said something along the lines of "We want to preserve Jewish identity. If she's not Jewish, she must not marry a Jew" Well, let me ask you WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Seriously, how dare you decide for other people who they can and can't marry? If two people love each other, then: 1. They're going to be together anyway. It's not like they're going to break up just because the they can't get legally married. So, they'll either live together without legalizing their marriage or go to Cyprus. 2. they should be together because it's THEIR life and their damn decision! I mean, this is sickening that you think you have a right to force other Jews to participate in your anti-Assimilation agenda. It's THEIR decision, and they alone will decide. Not you, and not your Rabbis. This is utterly disgraceful. For shame, some of you!

We need to have civil marriage in Israel, like in every other developed country. We are not Iran or Saudi Arabia, so there's no reason that the Rabbinate should have so much power in our country. The Rabbinate are a regressive force, and if we always listened to them we would still be in the medieval period (in other words - like Saudia Arabia). As for Rita - the fact that it's father and not her mother who is Jewish makes no difference, except to some archaic customs. It is an arbitrary custom. In Karaite Judaism it is the other way round (only those with Jewish fathers are counted as Jewish). The fact that she is serving the country makes her more Jewish than those Haredi traitors who do not fight and do not work.

she should have not been accepted in the IDF.If she is "good enough" to defend Israel,she is good enough to be married in Israel.The Haredi do not contribute to Israel in the IDF or financially.We have to support them,or their wives support them AND bear children,look after them,and everything else.Enough of this nonsence.We are or should be a democratic state.Religion should not come into it.

I am Jewish because my mother and father were Jewish.However we were never religious and any ritual my mother carried out,such as lighting Shabbat candles was copied from her mother,not through and religious strength. Many years ago the 'line' went through the father.That is why my name is 'Simcha Michael BEN Herschel'. In those days paternity could not be easily proved.Nowadays it is simple.Either Jewishness should be accepted by either parent being Jewish,plus a request of sincerity by any offspring.,OR completely dismiss every one who has no Jewish parent at all.I do not recommend the latter option.The whole thing is about power of the rabbinate,whereas it should be about sincerity to be Jewish?Israeli.If Hitler 'accepted' any one with ONE Jewish Grandparent for his plans,then we should be ashamed of ourselves.Of course ,if it is a question of HUGE immigration of"Jews" from particular places for "demographic reasons" that would be acceptable to the state.In future,all would be IDF recruits should fill in a form admitting their 'Jewishness" and if it is not "good enough" for future recognition in marriage,they should be informed before they commit to the IDF or be accepted because of their sincerity to the state.

Most Jews don't hate Arabs! While there may be resentment in some circles in regards to the perpetual war inflicted by Arab nations on Israel, it does not translate to a hatred of a group or race. Those few who wave the banner of hate or racism are quickly ostracized.

Well said. But the comments after yours continue to miss the point. People commenting on Ynet ought to read carefully and think before reacting, but most don't.

Love has nothing to do with the refusal from the rabinate, who absolutely cannot negate what is clearly stated in the Torah. There are Christians, God blessed them, serving in the IDF. The Law is the Law and there is NO confusion. The fact that she does not want to convert tells us something...

... and nobody will speak up. (well, at least for SOME of the jews they'll come last. for others - perhaps sooner. sounds of "after we finish them we'll come for you" still ringing in my ears) thankyou mister Niemöller.

She should be able to marry. Screw the rabbinate. They're a bunch of hypocrites, non-working, no military service, users.

I think your level of understanding and knowledge of jewish law is rather low. Jewisness is through the mother and it makes perfect sense. Reform DO NOT follow jewish law which is what Halacha IS. It is the essence of judaism and everything is in reference to it. It is not political or else and it can't be changed!

We all love and embrace you, you are one of us despite the complications of this situation

Rita's plight brings to mind my family's situation. I am thoroughly Jewish from an Orthodox family. My wife was a Catholic who converted to Judaism after our marriage. She was converted by an Conservative rabbi. A year later our daughter was born. Is our daughter Jewish? We three believe she is Jewish. What would her standing be in Israel? And how about my wife?

A civil marriage in Israel?! Are you nuts?! More Israelis get married in Cyprus than Cypriots. As a non-Jew her only right is to get enslaved and forced to get killed for the Jewish state.

by having a Jewish father. During our time in the diaspora owing to circumstances beyond our control, notably the rape of Jewish women by our hosts and also because Jewish men travelling far from home on business could produce offspring who would not have a jewish upbringing, the rabbis took the eminently practical step of deciding the change the definition of Jewishness from patrilineal to matrilineal. Since the establishment of the state there has been another quantum shift in our circumstances. We need rabbis of the calibre of those who made the original decision long ago to bring the halacha and law of return together. One Jewish grandparent is enough. It was enough within living memory. It is time to unite Am Yisrael. Haredim will always have their "aristocracy", "yichus". They are welcome to it. I would refer them to the Book of Ruth, she threw in her lot with Am Yisrael. One way of doing that today is at the swearing in ceremony of the IDF. It's time to remove the monopoly on marriage from all religious authorities and allow civil marriage for those who want it.

All those who came to Israel,came knowing this is a Jewish land. Many cheated Israel ,perhaps,and perhaps Israel closed an eye,but fact is that everybody knows the reality of Israel. Druzim know,Arabs know,everybody knows. Even those whose gradparents only were Jews ,as is Rita´s case more or less,know. Israel didn´t cheat anybody in its reality. Many(perhaps all non Jews)do not accept the fact that Israel is Jewish,but that´s a fact.That´s why even we have been fighting so many wars.It is because we are Jews and we want to keep being so in our land. So,I don´t see the problem on "enforcing" what is known. Israel can not behave as a "reform" country to please everybody because it will end up being un-pleased if it acts so. Those Israelis who imigrated to Israel and who are not fully jews ,according to Halachah ,and who go to the army as you put,are not different of christians, muslims,druze who live in Israel,in other words ,everybody knows what Israel is about and in that all Jews agree. Virtually all Jews in Israel want to maintain Israel Jewish and the land of Jews. Marriage is just one more way to put fences that must be put.It´s a rule.