Ayelet Shaked, number five on the Bayit HaYehudi list released a statement that her party will work to advance civil marriages for “those ineligible to get married in the Chief Rabbinate system to avoid having to travel abroad” as many couples are compelled to do today.

According to the Kippa report, Shaked plans to work with Yisrael Beitenu to permit civil marriages under certain conditions. Shaked is quoted as saying “I have a friend who plans to get married in Hawaii because she is a Jew and her future husband is not. His father is a Jew but his mom underwent a Reform conversion. “We wish to permit civil marriages under such conditions as well” Shaked explains.

Shaked adds that because they are a religious party, they cannot support civil marriages as an option, but must restrict such an arrangement to special cases, such as her friend, who is not eligible to marry under the Chief Rabbinate system since the bridegroom is a goy.

“The Rabbanut today is in chareidi hands exclusively. The dati leumi rabbonim cannot move ahead there as a result and therefore, this will be part of a coalition agreement, our insistence on a major change inside the Chief Rabbinate, including the conversion system. We will push for expedited giyur within the parameters of Halacha. Even within the parameters of Halacha one can convert in a faster and more pleasant track than exists today.”

Shas responded to the statements, stating “Slowly but surely the truth leaks out regarding Bayit HaYehudi. People like Ayelet Shaked, chilonim, are uninterested in Jewish identity and this is worrisome. Every religious Jew that votes for them must think twice before doing so for this will jeopardize the future Jewish character of our nation.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)