Nov 4, 2014

illegal for rabbis to take money for officating at weddings

It is official. Th Knesset has passed the law proposal to make it illegal for rabbis to charge money or receive tips for officiating at weddings.

This new law applies only to rabbis who receive their salary from the religious councils. "Private" rabbis can charge.

MK Shuli Moallem (Habayit Hayehudi) explained that a couple gistering for marriage already pays 700NIS for the registration, and should not need to pay more for the wedding. The wedding ceremony should be included in that cost.

As well, there will be a determination of a quota of how many weddings a rabbi should perform monthly, as well as a determination of the geographical area within which a rabbi should officiate weddings at no extra charge, and what they can charge for weddings above and beyond the quota or outside the geographical area.

MK Nissim Zeev (Shas) does not like the law and claims its whole purpose is to make rabbis look bad, as rabbis dont take money to officiate at weddings.
 
source: Srugim and Kikar 


I personally know, firsthand knowledge, that Zeev's statement is false. I have been involved in weddings, more than once, where the officiating rabbis were State rabbi and money was taken for officiating. Maybe some don't, but saying none do is false.

------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
at

4 comments:

  1. JoshNovember 04, 2014 7:44 PM

    White lie - the rabbis are never paid, (that would of course entail getting a receipt) but are given tips.

    I wonder how much does the law respect the rabbis' normal routine, private life, and order of priority. Are rabbis the only civil servants that are expected to work overtime for no extra pay? What if the rabbi has a family affair but the law says he has to officiate at a local wedding? What if the rabbi is giving nightly shiurim, who will be paid to fill in or does the wedding take priority?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rafi G.November 04, 2014 9:38 PM

    not true. I know of situations where the price was told upfront. it wasnt even called a tip, but the was the cost.
    but even if it is a tip, if it is a specific amount that is practically demanded, there is no practical difference.

    ReplyDelete
  3. NancyNovember 05, 2014 1:45 AM

    I had no idea, I'll let the rabbis at wedding officiants know.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MiMedinat HaYamNovember 05, 2014 2:45 PM

    If the local rav can't make it at that date / time, find another one. Then, you (probably) have to pay, or change the date / time.

    ReplyDelete