Rhiannon Hendricks
Israel is a country with a rich history and diverse culture, and its wedding traditions reflect this diversity. Weddings in Israel are joyous and energetic affairs, with unique rituals and legal requirements that differ from those in other parts of the world. The country's religious authorities, including Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Druze communities, hold the power to legally marry couples, and each community has its own set of traditions and procedures. From the vibrant streets of Jerusalem to the scenic vineyards of the Golan Heights, Israel offers a range of destinations for couples looking to tie the knot. In this paragraph, we will explore the intricacies of weddings in Israel, delving into the traditions, legalities, and the significance they hold for Israelis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of weddings recognized | Religious weddings (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Druze) |
| Authority for Jewish marriages | Chief Rabbinate of Israel and Rabbinical courts |
| Authority for Christian marriages | Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Chaldean Catholic, Melkite Greek Catholic, Maronite Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Anglican churches, Lutheran, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox churches |
| Authority for Muslim marriages | Religious courts |
| Authority for Druze marriages | Religious authorities |
| Requirements for marriage | Proof of eligibility (valid ID, passport, birth certificate, certification of religious status), proof of single status, proof of religious ancestry, documentation of conversion |
| Age requirement | Both partners must be at least 18 |
| Timing of wedding | Date and time must avoid Sabbath, religious holidays, and mourning periods |
| Location of wedding | Synagogue |
| Pre-wedding rituals | Bride undergoes Mikvah (ritual immersion), engagement (Tnoim), signing of Ketubah (marriage contract), Badeken (veiling of the bride) |
| Wedding ceremony | Procession of the bride and groom under the Huppah/Chuppah (wedding canopy), seven blessings over wine, exchange of rings, bride circles groom seven times under the Chuppah |
| Wedding attire | Groom wears a dark suit, male guests wear head coverings, female guests dress modestly |
| Wedding festivities | Days of feasting, celebratory dinner |
| Music | No strict rules |
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What You'll Learn
Israeli marriage laws
Israel's marriage laws are unique in that the country does not permit civil marriages. Marriages are conducted in rabbinical courts only and in accordance with the couple's religious affiliation. Israel's religious authorities are the only entities authorized to perform weddings in the country.
The religious communities privileged by Israeli law to manage their own civil affairs include Jews, Muslims, and Druze. The state only recognizes marriages performed by a religious body if the couple belongs to one of these religious communities. Israel recognizes marriages under the Jewish, Muslim, and Druze faiths and ten specified denominations of Christianity. Marriages in each community are under the jurisdiction of their own religious authorities.
For Jewish marriages, the religious authority is the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Rabbinical courts. To legalize a halachic marriage in Israel, couples must apply in a Beit Din Rabbani, which is under the jurisdiction of the Israeli Rabbinate. The Beit Din has the power to legalize the marriage by approving it as halachically valid. Applications can be submitted in person or via email, and both spouses must be present to open a file. The documents required include the original Kesubah (Jewish marriage contract), passports, passport pictures, and an original letter from the mesader kedushin written in Hebrew and containing all the details of the marriage ceremony.
Muslim marriages are conducted in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. Interfaith marriages are permitted only between Muslim men and Christian or Jewish women. A Muslim woman can petition for and receive a divorce through the Sharia courts without her husband's consent under certain conditions. Conversely, a Muslim man may divorce his wife without her consent and without petitioning the court.
Israel does not allow mixed-religion marriages or same-sex marriages. Couples of different faiths or no faith can enter into a civil union if they choose to marry abroad. These marriages are recognized by the state, and Israeli residents who are unable to marry in Israel due to religious barriers often opt for this route. In 2022, the Supreme Court also recognized marriages conducted remotely via videotelephony with an officiant in Utah.
The general minimum age for marriage in Israel is 18 years for both men and women, raised from 17 years for women and 18 years for men in 2013.
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Jewish wedding rituals
Another pre-wedding ritual is the Tnoim or engagement, which is a formal agreement between the two families, often in writing, that sets the date of the wedding. This is followed by a celebratory dinner. The attire for the wedding is similar to Western traditions, with the groom in a dark suit and male guests wearing head coverings. Female guests are expected to dress modestly.
The wedding ceremony begins with the procession of the bride and groom under the Huppah or Chuppah, a wedding canopy that symbolises the new home being built by the couple. The rabbi conducts the ceremony, which includes seven blessings over a cup of wine, and the exchange of rings. The bride circles the groom seven times under the Chuppah, symbolising protection from evil. In some traditions, the couple also circles each other to signify the centrality of one spouse to the other. The couple then partakes in the Kiddushin, the Hebrew word for "betrothal", where the groom gives the bride a ring or another object of value, followed by the Nissuin or marriage.
The Ketubah, a marriage contract that outlines the groom's obligations to the bride, is signed by the couple and two witnesses before the ceremony. The Bedeken or veiling ceremony, where the groom covers the bride's face with a veil, is also performed before the wedding. This ritual has its roots in two biblical narratives: the love between Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob being tricked into marrying Leah, whose face was covered by a veil.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the couple breaks a glass, and guests shout "Mazel Tov!", wishing the couple good luck and congratulations. The couple then proceeds to a private room for Yichud or seclusion, where they spend time alone and share their first meal together as a married couple.
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Christian, Muslim and Druze marriages
Israel recognizes marriages under the faiths of Jewish, Muslim, and Druze communities, as well as ten specified denominations of Christianity. Marriages in each community are under the jurisdiction of their own religious authorities.
Christian Marriages
There are ten officially recognized churches for the purpose of marriage in Israel. These include the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Chaldean Catholic, Melkite Greek Catholic, Maronite Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, and Anglican churches.
Muslim Marriages
Muslim marriages are conducted in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. Interfaith marriages are permitted only between Muslim men and Christian or Jewish women. A Muslim woman may receive a divorce without her husband's consent under certain conditions, and a marriage contract may outline other circumstances in which she can obtain a divorce without her husband's consent. However, a Muslim man may divorce his wife without her consent and without petitioning the court.
Druze Marriages
The Druze community was recognized as a separate community from the Muslim community in 1957. In 1962, separate Druze courts were established to deal with personal status issues within the community. The Druze believe in the unity of God and are often known as the "People of Monotheism" or "Monotheists".
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Ancient Israelite customs
Marriage customs in ancient Israel were vastly different from those in modern Western societies. While romantic love and sexual passion were acknowledged, marriages were generally based on economic or social considerations. Marriage was also a negotiated match, with the groom's father paying the bride's father a bride price or mohar, which was not considered a purchase price. The bride's father was expected to give the mohar to the bride, and it was considered harsh if he kept it for himself. The bride also brought other possessions into the marriage, including gifts from the groom and sometimes landed property or slaves from her own father.
The ancient Israelites also practised polygamy, with men allowed to have multiple wives and concubines and to visit prostitutes. Marriage between cousins was strongly preferred, and marriages with non-Israelites were treated differently in various biblical texts.
Marriage consisted of three parts: contract, consummation, and celebration. The first part was the betrothal or erusin, which was a firm commitment sealed by a gift from the groom to the bride. The couple was considered married, but they did not live together or have sexual relations. The betrothal was followed by the wedding or nissuin, when the bride was brought to the groom's home. The wedding festivities included a feast, which was attended by a larger crowd than the ceremony itself.
The ketubah, or marriage contract, protected the rights of the wife by specifying the groom's responsibilities in caring for her and the amount of support she would receive in the event of a divorce. Divorce could be initiated by the husband or the wife, but the wife had to be sly in expressing any wishes that contradicted those of her husband, as he had life-and-death power over her in the case of adultery.
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Civil marriages abroad
Israel only recognizes religious weddings performed under the faiths of Jewish, Muslim, and Druze communities, along with ten specified denominations of Christianity. Consequently, civil marriages are not recognized in Israel, and Israeli residents who are not permitted to marry in Israel often travel overseas for their weddings, usually to nearby Cyprus.
Israel does, however, recognize civil marriages performed abroad. In 1962, the Supreme Court determined that the Ministry of the Interior must register married couples who had a civil marriage abroad, even if either or both of the spouses were citizens of Israel. This was further supported by a 2006 Supreme Court decision, which recognized the need for a divorce to dissolve a civil marriage celebrated outside of Israel between two Jewish Israeli citizens and residents. The Court acknowledged that this was a common social phenomenon that the law must consider.
In addition to the above, the details of two witnesses who aren't related to either partner and can attest to their single status are also required. The document issued by the place of registration must be certified by a notary and stamped with an Apostille. This is sufficient for registration with the Israeli Interior Ministry.
It is important to note that the act of registration is for statistical purposes only and does not determine the validity of the marriage or recognize the personal status of the couple. The validity of a marriage between spouses who were Israeli citizens or residents at the time of the marriage abroad is still a subject of debate, as it involves compliance with religious requirements.
In 2010, Israel passed the Civil Union Law for Citizens with no Religious Affiliation, allowing couples to form a civil union in Israel if they are both registered as officially not belonging to any religion.
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Frequently asked questions
Israel only recognizes religious weddings. Marriages are conducted by religious authorities of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Druze faiths.
The couple must register with the Rabbanut (the Chief Rabbinate) and provide proof of eligibility, including valid IDs, birth certificates, and certification of Jewish status. Each partner must be at least 18 years old. The date and time must avoid the Sabbath, Jewish holidays, and mourning periods. The ceremony is typically held in a synagogue, and the bride undergoes a pre-wedding ritual immersion called Mikvah.
The ceremony includes the signing of a Ketubah, a marriage contract describing the couple's rights and obligations. The Badeken is a ritual where the bride's face is covered with a veil, symbolizing respect. The wedding ceremony begins with the procession of the bride and groom under the Huppah (or Chuppah), a wedding canopy. The rabbi conducts the ceremony, which includes seven blessings over wine, the exchange of plain wedding bands, and the bride circling the groom seven times under the Chuppah for protection from evil.
Israeli weddings are known for their sense of intimacy and participation. Guests are actively involved in the ceremony, standing, clapping, singing, and dancing. The Chuppah ceremony includes prayers and is a heartfelt plea for the peace and safety of Israel.
Israel offers diverse spots for destination weddings. Popular choices include Jerusalem, the beaches of Tel Aviv, scenic vineyards in the Golan Heights, the lush gardens of Haifa, and desert landscapes near Eilat.
