Tzohar is a rabbinic organization providing an alternative to the Rabbanut for anybody who wants to avoid the Rabbanut and it's government level of bureaucracy. Many Israelis have found Tzohar rabbis to be considerate and attentive relative to the level of service provided by Rabbanut rabbis and have enjoyed the service provided. They have made inroads particularly among Israelis who would never go to the Rabbanut, for whatever reason, and would prefer a civil marriage in Cyprus instead - with Tzohar available, many have agreed to undergo Jewish wedding ceremonies instead.
Now, Tzohar has been told by Religious Services Minister Yaakov Margi that they can no longer provide these services. It is against the law, as by law all marriages must go through the Rabbanut. Margi said that he could not allow "a mini Rabbinate" to be formed.
The main issue seems to be the way in which the marriages are registered. Couples are supposed to register in the Rabbanut of the city in which they live, or where at least one of them lives, yet with Tzohar all marriages have been processed through one of two offices -either Shoham or Gush Etzion - even when neither member of a registering couple lives in those areas.
What I fail to understand is how Margi can cancel the Tzohar services while at the same time allow the Haredi services, through the Badatz and Rav Nissim Karelitz in Bnei Braq, to continue operating. The haredi services have been functioning in exactly the same manner, with couples who don't want to go to the Rabbanut going to the Eida instead. And with the haredi system, they registered couples regardless of where they live - a couple both living outside of Jerusalem (say, Beitar and Bet Shemesh, for example) would still be processed in the Eida in Jerusalem, despite neither member living there.
Margi says he is treating everyone equally, requiring the same of everyone, yet he has failed to explain how he allows the haredi system to continue operating while he cancels the allowance for Tzohar. Perhaps Tzohar should consider suing for discrimination, saying that if he is going to continue allowing exceptions to the rule via the eida, he should have to continue allowing them as well.
Oh do you mean that there is a double standard involving Charedim?
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmm that never happens.
I'm sure this will be litigated with another absurd case of the rabbanut getting hauled in front of the supreme court showing yet again the incoherence of Israeli society.
ReplyDeleteTzohar had one major fault - people liked it, and it showed a user-friendly side to religion, which is not at all liked by the chareidim. No more ahavat chinum. When is he going to close down the Chareidi registration, and make them stand in the queue in the Rabbanut just like anyone else?
ReplyDeleteNot all Tzohar marriages are done through Shoham. There are non-religious couples who are willing to register with the Rabbanut where they live - and then they choose a Tzohar Rabbi to marry them. The Shoham option was for non-religious couples who were not willing to set foot in the Rabbanut offices where they live.
ReplyDeleteThis happened, since Tzohar is actively trying to do a cue on the rabbanut and to completely rid the government from religious affairs.
ReplyDelete