Break in Orthodox monopoly?
צילום: סי די בנק
Orthodox rabbi calls for civil marriage
Naftali Rothenberg, rabbi of Har Adar, says halacha would recognize alternative to religious ritual
Rabbi Naftali Rothenberg, the spiritual leader of Har Adar, a mixed religious-secular community in the Jerusalem hills, has called for a break in the Orthodox monopoly over marriage and divorce in Israel.
Speaking to Israel Radio, Rothenberg said such a plan would even be supported by many Halachic (Jewish law) authorities, including current Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
"It's an open secret that many rabbinic authorities would sanction such a move, including Rabbi Amar," he said.
Two tracks
Rothenberg proposes two tracks for marriage in Israel, keeping the current rabbinic establishment, but creating a parallel civil option for those who choose. He said the civil option would be available not only for couples ineligible to get married under Jewish law (such as cohanim, or descendants of the biblical Aaron, who cannot marry divorcees according to halacha), but also for secular couples who choose to bypass the rabbinate.
The rabbi pointed out that Jewish law would require divorcing couples to remain in the same framework they married under, and said that Jewish law would have no problem recognizing such a plan.
"Many important authorities over the past 200 years have ruled that civil marriage has no religious significance whatsoever. Therefore, there would be no problem allowing couples who got married civilly to divorce in the same manner (because according to Jewish law, they would never have been married in the first place)," he said.
Couples married via the rabbinate would still be required to obtain a religious divorce.
Important occasions
Rothenberg said his plan would not dissuade Israelis from choosing religious ceremonies for their weddings.
"A vast majority of Israelis want traditional ceremonies for the important occasions of life. This will not change by adding a civil option for marriage. People will still opt to have a rabbi conduct their weddings," he said.
Asked what has prevented the implementation of such a plan if it would be supported by leading rabbis and halachic authorities, Rothenberg said the issue was simple: "People don't want to lose their power."
