Chief Rabbi David Lau Shlita expressed harsh criticism of the Prenuptial Bill sponsored by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni. Livni explained her bill intends to minimize the number of agunos in Israel by seeking to persuade couples to sign a prenuptial before getting married. Rav Lau feels that anything having to do with chupah and keddushin must remain in the control of the Chief Rabbinate.

Rabbi Lau was addressing an assembly in Bar Ilan University. He stated the Ministry of Justice has no jurisdiction to address anything to do with marriage, which remains the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

“Two weeks ago we sent an invitation to attend a session of the Chief Rabbinate Council to discuss prenuptial agreements. The hearing was to examine whether there should be such an agreement and if so, what the wording should be. The purpose was to examine the issue correctly and utilitarian to the rabbinical courts so the batei din can use such an agreement correctly and in the proper fashion. This morning the Ministerial Law Committee discussed the bills. With all due respect to the justice minister in this matter, the Chief Rabbinate is the address. The batei din must approve such agreements, not the Ministry of Justice” stated Rav Lau.

Rav Lau explained that since being appointed as chief rabbi he has not had an easy time. “Some of the founders saw the Rabbinate as the mezuzah of the country but it was not always like this. I see the wave of legislation relating to the concept of a Jewish State and religion and state. It would be fitting for the Chief Rabbinate to be the prime minister’s advisor on Jewish matters and not the Justice Ministry”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)