The following feature contained the statement, "Jews and Arabs are forbidden to inter-marry in Israel". Some clarification is necessary to avoid a racist interpretation of this policy. It is, rather, an anti-secular piece of legislation: civil marriage is not permitted in Israel but those of the same faith may marry in front of their respective clergy, be they Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, etc. The only alternative is to marry abroad, as the piece said, or live together without the legal benefits of a recognised marriage.Can any of our Israeli readers shed some light on this issue? Is this an accurate portrayal?
COMMENTS:
- Larry Yudelson: Yep, that's right. No secular marriage. And the rabbi performing your wedding -- assuming that you and your spouse both are approved as Jewish by the rabbinic bureacracy -- won't perform the ceremony without a certificate from a local mikveh that the bride has immersed first. Or so I learned when I reported on the issue back in 1990.
- Anonymous: The original Guardian article, and even the correction, reflect that newspaper's ignorance of the history and culture of the region, abetted by its eageness to try to besmirch Israel in every possible way. Under the British mandate, all matters of personal status, such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance etc, were reserved for the religious authorities of the respective communities -- Moslem, Jewish and Christian. A similar situation had obtained under Ottoman rule (the millet system). The British mandatory authorities and the Israeli government broadly retained the status quo regarding marriage and other personal status matters.
- Ben: this is not completely accurate. marriages conducted abroad are recognized by israeli law. plus, with the shinui party in power, i dont think the status quo is going to last much longer.
- Diana: Yup, it's true, although I wouldn't say that "Jews and Arabs are forbidden to intermarry." I'd say that Muslims, Christians and Jews have no civil option to marry. I've written about this on my blog.
- Mike: I don't know how true or false that article is, but I do know that it sure as hell seems laced up with hyperbole, if you know what I mean.
- Ilana: And he has to be an Orthodox rabbi - no Conservative or Reform rabbis are allowed to perform marriages. People who can't marry in Israel for various reasons go to Cyprus, and when they get back their marriage is recognized as perfectly legal.
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