Israel: Information on whether both parties to a marriage conducted under Jewish laws are required to be of Jewish descent and on whether a marriage can also be done under secular laws between ethnic groups, such as Russians, and Jews
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ISR11935 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Israel: Information on whether both parties to a marriage conducted under Jewish laws are required to be of Jewish descent and on whether a marriage can also be done under secular laws between ethnic groups, such as Russians, and Jews, 1 October 1992, ISR11935, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab6d4c.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A representative of the Consulate of Israel in Toronto provided the following information on the above subjects during a telephone interview on 26 October 1992.
Birth or conversion qualifies a person to be recognized as Jewish. In the former case, a person is required to be born of Jewish parents or of a Jewish mother; having a Jewish father does not qualify a person as Jewish.
Marriages are performed in Israel according to the religious laws of couples. Hence, couples may get married according to Jewish laws by going to a rabbi if they are Jewish according to the above-mentioned criteria. Jewish couples are not required to be of Jewish descent. Although there are three "levels" of rabbis (orthodox, reformist and conservative) in Israel, the government of Israel only recognizes marriages conducted by orthodox rabbis as legal. No religious marriage ceremonies can be conducted by secular authorities. Secular authorities only register marriages.
Additional and/or corroborating information on the above subjects is currently unavailable to the DIRB.
Reference
Consulate of Israel, Toronto. 26 October 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
