As the Knesset prepares to pass the new minimum marriage age in Israel, raising it from 17 to 18-years-old, some rabbonim are stating quite frankly this will not prevent them from marrying 17-year-olds as is commonplace in the chareidi community in Eretz Yisrael, especially in chassidish circles. The bill is sponsored by Likud MKs Yariv Levine and Gila Gamliel.
According to Yolish Krauss, the Eida Chareidis’ operations officer, the law does not change a thing for the chassidus, adding “we were here before the medina and we will be here after it is gone”.
Krauss explains the Eida will continue performing chupah and keddushin with kosher witnesses and a kesuva as Am Yisrael has done throughout the generations, relying upon its own rabbonim. The registration with state authorities will be done when the couple is 18-years-old. Yolish explains “we have absolutely no problem being listed a single for as long as the couple is married in the eyes of Torah Law, for that is all that matters”. He explains state law has never had significance for the Eida tzibur.
Simply stated, the Eida rabbonim know who is from their tzibur and they will continue performing a chupah for the community. However, they may not be as willing for outsiders, fearing a chupah involving anyone under 18-years-old may land the rav in prison for two years under the new law.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
1. The zionists, unlike the Muslims, do not accept the validity of halacha in any matter pertaining to personal status.
2. The zionists could arrest the hasan for rape, and prosecute everyone at the wedding, including guests, as accessories to rape.
3. They are already making plans to throw in prison any non-zionist rabbi who “officiates” at a wedding.
4. Whether 17 year olds are ready to get married is not something that should be left to the zionist kenesset – that’s a question for the parents. In America, most states allow girls under a set age to marriage as long as there is some procedure to show she is doing so voluntarily.
Well, you know what they say: “17 will get you 20”. More poverty, more ignorance..it just keep perpetuating. They want their “girls” barefoot and pregnant. Very sad, indeed.
Yolish Krauss is no spokesman or anything else with the Eidah.
That being said, it is 100% abundantly clear that if the Israelis pass this law of theirs, it’ll be routinely ignored regardless.
Btw, in New York State is is legal for 14 years old to marry. And 16 year old need only parental consent.
er walton157 #1: You post your feminist junk here regularly. But in Judaism being pregnant is certainly no “sad, indeed.” It is actually wonderful. We Jews, you may or may not have heard, have a Torah. In the Torah it says pru u’rvu. You might not believe in it, but we Jews do.
#2,your stereotyping is archaic. My daughter married at 17 and a few months and not only is she NOT barefoot or pregnant, but her husband treats her like a queen. She works full time so that they can save to buy an apartment. He words too (did that blow your stereotypical frum boy?). The only one I can figure is suffering from “more ignorance” is you and others like you. And yes, that IS sad, indeed.
“4. In America, most states allow girls under a set age to marriage as long as there is some procedure to show she is doing so voluntarily.”
Mr. Kupermam, since you use the internet, you can certainly look up the fact that even in America, 18 is generally the minimum age for marriage (in Nebraska one must be 19 and in Mississippi 21). Below that age, one often requires court permission, and even then there are age limits, usually 16. According to what I read on YWN, this law requires people being 18, and those below require court permission.