Israeli Lawmaker Marries Abroad In Protest Of Rabbinate
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli lawmaker was married in the Seychelles in order to avoid having to involve Israel’s Chief Rabbinate in the ceremony.
Ksenia Svetlova of the left-of-center Zionist Union party, who has been vocal in her support of civil marriage in Israel, and her fiancé were married on the Indian Ocean island in recent days. On Tuesday, she posted a photo of herself in her wedding gown with her fiancee on the beach.
“The only one that was absent from this beautiful ceremony was the Orthodox rabbinate, which has a monopoly on marriage in the State of Israel,” she said. “We both felt that this entity has nothing to do with our Judaism, and we were not ready to be forced on the happiest day of our lives to play according to the rules of a game that is alien to us.”
Svetlova added that she hopes in the future that Israeli couples will be able to marry in Israel in the way that they want without worrying about the rabbinate’s intervention.
“No one has ownership of Judaism, and it is inconceivable that in a Jewish state one obsessive body will have an absolute monopoly on our lives!” she said. “I will continue to work for this purpose at the Knesset, once I get back from my honeymoon.”
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
