The Bride and Groom in Israel

Marriage is a ceremonial union that brings two people together. In Israel, marriage is also defined intensely by religious traditions. Religion is an extreme factor in a marriage ceremony and recognition in the country. The book, The Israelis by Donna Rosenthal, goes into depth of all the different religious people and their marriage traditions in Israel. If a person is Jewish, Ultra Orthodox, Orthodox, Secular, Christian or Muslim, he or she must be recognized by their religious courts in order to have a marriage ceremony recognized or performed in the state of Israel. Amongst all these religious groups, the Jews and the Muslims had the most traditional rituals that were expected to be performed and present in a marriage ceremony by a couple. Based on my reading from Rosenthal’s chapter on marriage (Chapter 16), I feel that the Jewish people in Israel seem to experience the strictest rules with their religious courts and rabbis, even more so than the Muslims. Rosenthal stated certain guidelines that a Jewish couple must follow in order to be considered to marry by the rabbinate. One being, the niddah course which is a set of laws about family purity when a woman can actually have sex with her husband (p.344). In addition to this, it is emphasized that a couple should not get married if the bride is on her menstrual cycle. In some cases, Rosenthal described how some marriages were not recognized in Israel because of the destination or by what Rabbi held the ceremony.

The strictness on who is entitled to marry a Jewish couple is a hot issue to this day in Israel. Rosenthal’s book was written in 2003. Ten years later, these same issues are quite relevant in Israel among the Jewish communities and want modernization.  Within these past few years, there are articles written about how the law should be changed and people should have the freedom to choose who can marry them. In the Times of Israel, the Knesset set to pass marriage registration reform, which was written by Haviv Rettig Gur. The article discusses the intent of the Tzohar law and how it will push for major reform in marriage registration.  The Knesset bill passed 56-13. This was seen as a positive way to face the Orthodox rabbis and give Jewish couples more marriage freedom. In the article, Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin said this law would be more optimistic in the traditional and secular Jewish communities.  Even though there are positive reactions, there are negative responses to this new bill as well. Haredi activists reacted negatively with the passing of the bill. The Haredim believed that the intent of the bill was there to weaken the position of the rabbis.

 In the article, Rabbis in Israel Quarrel over the nixing of Registration Zones by Jeremy Sharon, he writes about the law as well that has been passed in Israel over marriage. This article was published in the Jerusalem Post in March 2014.  The Tzohar law passed in late February this year abolishing marriage registration zones. This law has allowed couples to now register at any rabbinate they choose to versus which city they are a resident in. The article goes on to say that thousands have already taken advantage of this new law. Even though this is a serious blow to the rabbinate and their strict tradition, this is easier for secular couples to register for marriage. Modern Jewish couples have gained leverage over where they want to marry and by which rabbinate by this new law. 

Both articles mention the advantage that the Jewish people have gained over the rabbinate. Not that they are overthrowing the positions of the Jewish Rabbis in a marriage ceremony, they are emphasizing the significant right to more marriage freedom by the passing of the Tzohar law.  This is change and reform in a long held tradition among Jews in marriage recognition in the state, however, I think this change is necessary since there are diverse practicing Jews from the Orthodox to the Secular Jews.  After reading Rosenthal’s chapter on marriage and researching these two articles I feel like there is tension between prospective Jewish couples and the rabbis. The Tzohar law allows Jewish couples to freely choose whom to marry them and where to register their wedding, which is still keeping it traditional, but with a minor twist.