Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita in his address to the Rabbinical Centre of Europe, came out strongly against Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party’s civil marriage legislation, which is being discussed by chareidi parties as they seek an acceptable compromise that will permit them to sit with Yisrael Beitenu in the coalition government.

Rav Lau told the Paris conference that the alarming assimilation rates plague the global Jewish community, adding “what is worse, there are those seeking to open the gates [to assimilation] in Eretz Yisrael. This import we do not need”.

Regarding the civil marriage bill, the rav stated, “They are trying to introduce reforms, liberalism and pluralism. There are enough countries pretending to comply, 192, but there is only one Jewish country”.

Also addressing the issue was Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger Shlita, who stated two gedolim will make the decision, Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita and Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita. Rav Metzger stated we await their ruling as to the question of a compromise, permitting non-Jews to marry in civil ceremonies.

In any event he stated marriages between Jews and non-Jews as Lieberman seeks to permit are out of the question.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)