The Chief Rabbinate Council on Monday, 18 Adar-II approved a number of resolutions including a reduction in the cost of marriage registration.

Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita presented the resolution to reduce the cost of marriage registration for a couple. The council also amended regulations pertaining to the document attesting to one being single and not married. In the past, a person would have to obtain such a document from the local religious council in the city or municipality in which one resides. The rabbonim have decided that since today religious councils communicate via computer, the document attesting to one being single has become superfluous.

The council also decided to bring an end to the long-standing practice of advertising the names of couples registering to be married in two newspapers. In place of the newspaper ads, the local religious councils will post the names of couples planning to get married on the local religious council website and Minister of Religious Services website.

During the meeting Rav Lau turned to the director-general of the ministry and asked about lowering the cost for marriage registration, explaining the council will be saving money by not having to pay for newspaper ads to publicize the couples registered to get married. As such, the fee will be lowered NIS 150.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)