While the Zehut party headed by Moshe Feiglin has a platform that includes many welcome changes, there are also many worrisome components, which threaten the future Jewish character of the State of Israel and the religious integrity of some of its components, as per the platform appearing on the party’s English website.

Moshe Feiglin is a favorite among many former English-speaking olim, many unaware of the true nature of the party’s extensive platform.

One worrisome area is the party’s policy on ending the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s marriage registration policy and “monopoly on marriage”, which to date has ensured the future of the Jewish People. If Zehut has its way, this will all come to an end.

Following is unedited portion of the platform on the subject as it appears on Zehut’s website:
Termination of Marriage Registration:
Zehut believes that the state should not determine what marriage is, who is married and who is not. These decisions belong to the society and community to which the person belongs.

Zehut will cancel the marriage registration presently employed. Each couple will be able to marry as they wish, in the type of ceremony they choose and in a manner that suits them. The legal implications of a wedding will depend on the legal agreement that the couple will choose, and this agreement will be the interface of their marriage with the state, if and when it needs to intervene. Furthermore, Zehut intends to enact a general reform in legislation so that there will be no legislative implications on the individual’s personal status.

In this reality of cancellation of marriage registration, the local rabbinate, in the form of the rabbinical courts, could continue to offer the public a marriage ceremony service, but without the monopoly now in its hands. Anyone who wishes will be legally entitled to officiate at marriages and “compete” with the rabbinical services. However, the marketing of marriage services will be regulated according to the standard specified in order to prevent fraud.

There are several advantages to this move:
• After the removal of the rabbinate’s monopoly, many will choose to marry specifically according to the religion of Moses and Israel.
• The public debate over government recognition of same-sex marriages will cease.
• The citizen’s freedom to choose how to marry will be preserved.
• The prestige of the Chief Rabbinate will rise in the eyes of the public.
• Political pressure will not be exerted on the rabbinate in order to distort halakhic rulings.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)