With elections less than a month away, the political arena in Israel provides dramatic headlines on a daily basis. However, for chareidi Jew, a rabbi no less, it is even more surprising when he announces that he favors civil marriage.

On Sunday in an interview with Rabbi Chaim Amsellem, who has the number two slot on the Zehut party list, the Rabbi told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that he does indeed support civil marriage in Israel.

During the interview with Amsellem, who was formally a member of the Shas party, explained “During a kenos that was held last week in Tzefas, with most of the participants being chareidim, they were there because of moderate Jewry and not because of religious coercion, but the one that brings freedom. This is what appeals to the broad audiences who are also anxious to reach [the] Zehut [party].

Amsellem did not ignore the law addressing pork, which was passed in the 1990s, leading to Shas breaking from the government of Yitzchak Rabin. “The Pork Law was legislated in 1962, and this and other similar laws are no longer adhered to. There are restaurants in Jerusalem selling pork. I am not a supporter of importing it, but this is a failure. The same is true regarding the Chametz Law, as well as the Shabbos Supermarket Law.”

Amsellem added, “The same regarding the law forbidding civilian marriage, which is a law from Rabbi Bakshi-Doron from 22 years ago. Which normal civilized nation permits itself from preventing 500,000 citizens from marrying with the Rabbinate? I am in favor of civilian marriage. On the one hand, we are not permitting them to become converts. You increase the bar instead of saying come and adopt the method of conversion of the Chief Rabbinate from 50 years ago. You say, ‘I am machmir’, and you then let then convert but do not permit them to marry in any place. It simply isn’t logical.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)