Chief Rabbis Ban Singing Rabbis From Performing Marriage Ceremonies

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel decided to strip rabbis who incorporate song and musical performances into the marriage ceremony of their authority to officiate at weddings claiming that it "cheapens the Rabbinate."

Rabbinate to strip authority of rabbis who sing under chuppah

Council of Chief Rabbinate decides to remove rabbis who incorporate music and singing into ceremony under wedding canopy from list of officiators. Rabbi Metzger: We received many complaints. Chairman of marriage committee: It commercializes Rabbinate

Kobi Nahshoni • Ynet

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel decided to strip rabbis who incorporate song and musical performances into the marriage ceremony of their authority to officiate at weddings claiming that it "cheapens the Rabbinate."
 
In a meeting held on Wednesday, the Council of the Chief Rabbinate ratified a similar decision made on the matter nearly a year ago, and emphasized that it would also enforce the decision vigilantly from here on in.
 
The discussion of the matter was held after complaints against the phenomenon were filed with the marriage board claiming that degraded themselves during marriage ceremonies, and thus trampled on the dignity of the entire institute of the Rabbinate. Following the decision, the Chief Rabbinate will notify all rabbis in Israel that if they do not fall in line with the stipulations, their authority to officiate at weddings will be revoked.
 
"Matrimony has always been enshrouded in an atmosphere of holiness," explained Chairman of the Rabbinate's Marriage Committee Rabbi Ratzon Arusi.

"We are aware of the fact that a younger generation has arisen that is far from the tradition and is interested in such a chuppah so that it is more accepted by those attending. However, everything must be in accordance with halacha (religious law). If the rabbi is genteel and cordial, we have no opposition. On the contrary, he sanctifies the Heavens. But when he sings and plays music, this is problematic."
 
Another decision was passed that forbids rabbis from advertising themselves in any way as wedding officiators. "This creates a very commercialized reality, and here, too, it cheapens the Rabbinate," said Rabbi Arusi. Another official in the Chief Rabbinate deemed the two phenomena as "transgression of rabbis' code of ethics."
 
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger told Ynet, "We were brought to the subject following repeated complaints that this hurts both the public and the rabbis acting as wedding officiators. In the first stage, we will gently address those about whom complaints were received. We will not start aggressive enforcement before explaining to them the essence of the damage caused to the Rabbinate by them."

Comments

[Dr. Dave]

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel decided to strip rabbis who incorporate song and musical performances into the marriage ceremony of their authority to officiate at weddings claiming that it "cheapens the Rabbinate."

Actually, it is discriminating against fellow Jews, rioting in favor of child abusers, oppressing converts and protecting child molesters that "cheapens" the rabbinate

[PulpitRabbi]

This has been all over the internet for several days now, but I still can't figure out what it is they are railing against. Anyone can point me to a youtube video of the kind of chupah performance they are against?

Is it rabbi-cantors they are against, or Carlebach types, or pop singing rabbis? (no, I am not worried for my job)

[Dr. Dave]

I think they're worried about the Elvis imitators.

[harold]

The discussion of the matter was held after complaints against the phenomenon were filed with the marriage board

It is interesting that this issue is being initiated by the public at large. I guess I can see their point; rabbi's in general I am assuming are not very good dancers and I gather not great singers as well so for them to perform can be an embarrassment.

[chaim]

i think there is some merit to the idea of preserving the dignity of the rabbinate... though I have no idea what, in particular, they are referring to. if you had guys doing a whole song and dance routine i think that would be inappropriate... but some appropriate cantorial or something like it? no. It is quite sad though that such trivialities they are concerned will diminish the dignity of the rabbinate but promoting riots and unjust laws doesn't raise an eyebrow.

[seymour]

there are squashing any type of enjoyment out of the religion. they want to make a very sad religion.

But of course it the rebbie stop riots scams people accused of fraud that is no problem for them

[seymour]

correction

But of course it the rebbie starts riots, scams people, involved in fraud that is no problem for them

Posted by: seymour | July 01, 2010 at 06:31 AM

[Althelion]

"cheapens the Rabbinate."

In light of current events, many covered on this website, I wonder:

How could the rabbinate be cheapened by song more than it has through lying; cheating; pedophilia; corruption; etc.?

[harold]

How could the rabbinate be cheapened by song more than it has through lying; cheating; pedophilia; corruption; etc.?

Because most people whether they be rabbis or just plain folks are honest hard working people. The media only shows the bad, the normal everyday life's chores that most of all go through is uneventful, not newsworthy and therefore never finds its way into the statistics and the news hence the skewed perception. It’s that simple!

[harold]

Please people, if you are using HTML tags to do things like bolding, please make sure the conform the the standard if not we get into a situation like we have now when everything will now be in bold.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

I think they're worried about the Elvis imitators.

Posted by: Dr. Dave | July 01, 2010 at 03:51 AM

The Reform Cantors are having their convention this week in Memphis, and made pilgrimmages to Graceland. One of their lot donned Elvisgarb for a hazzones concert later in the week.

[Althelion]

Elvis' great grandmother on his mother's side (his alter bubbie) was a yid. Which, according to halacha, make Elvis a member of the tribe. Elvis' middle name was Aaron, often spelled "Aron." When he was young, Elvis and his beloved mother Gladys lived in the basement of a Rabbi's house in Memphis. Elvis was the Shabbos goy. This is unfortuneate in light of Elvis' matrilineal descent. Elvis had a yiddishe neshama. He was, and always will be my tzadik of rock 'n roll.

I've always imagined how powerful it would've been to hear Elvis Presely chant Kol Nidrei.

[Dr. Dave]

Elvis has left the Shul.

[Althelion]

Todah, Todah Rabbah

[chabib]

Are singing rabbis forbidden to use
Singer Sowing Machines ?

[A E ANDERSON]

Does this mean rabbis will henceforth have to refrain from singsong recital and hazzanus, and just read the wedding ceremony in an ordinary voice?

Hard to believe that this Israeli rabbanut would run roughshod over hundreds or more years of Jewish tradition. Virtually every Jewish ritual and observance is connected with some prayer or liturgical extract, which, in turn, is associated with a particular song or tune.

To ban song from the huppa would make "Baruch Haba" sound more like the monotonous first reading of a parliamentary act than an act of religious devotion.

But this is perhaps the mission of the haredim, these chief rabbis being themselves farfrumpt beyond measure: denude Judaism of its happiness, its simchah, its tuv l'vav, and transmogrify Klal Yisroel into a nation of scowling misnagdim and unsmiling Yeckies.

[harold]

Does this mean rabbis will henceforth have to refrain from singsong recital and hazzanus, and just read the wedding ceremony in an ordinary voice?

I guess it means that the entertainment, like the band and the various wedding "shtick" should not be performed by the rabbi. For example it would not be dignified if the rabbi does the kazatzka with a wine bottle on his head or does the kazatzka while his hat is set on fire. I also don’t think it is too dignified to have the rabbi at the drums or getting into it playing the electric guitar during the wedding.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Love me Yentl
Apologies to Elvis:

Love me Yentl,
Love me sweet,
Never let me go.
You have made my chuppah complete,
And I love you, nu.

Love me Yentl
love me true
all my dreams fulfilled.
For my bubbeleh I love you
and I always will.

Love me Yentl
love me long
take me to your neshomeh.
For it's there that I belong
and we'll never milchomeh.

Love me Yentl
love me dear
tell me you are shaineh.
I'll be yours through all the years,
till the coming Messiah.

When at last my dreams come true
Bubbeleh this I know
Simcha will follow you
Everywhere you go

[seymour]

Because most people whether they be rabbis or just plain folks are honest hard working people. The media only shows the bad, the normal everyday life's chores that most of all go through is uneventful, not newsworthy and therefore never finds its way into the statistics and the news hence the skewed perception. It’s that simple!

Posted by: harold | July 01, 2010 at 09:31 AM

harorld the point is why they do not kick out people who did other criminal things

[dator]

most rabbis are abusers anyway dont let them get teh new couples trust beaware of the religion business theyre dangerous

[Aaron]

It's ironic that the Rabbinate further cheapened itself by excluding people it feld cheapened the profession.

[ML]

Lame.

[danny]

Chief Rabbi's are spending their government sponsored work day worrying about stupid sh*t like this.

They don't have to worry about "cheapening the rabbinate". It is already a worthless institution in my opinion.

[Yonah]

What reformim. Seriously, they clearly don't care at all what's written in the Talmud. I wish they could go back in time so Adda bar Ahavah could kick their asses.

[R]

Are they turning Judaism into some sort of puritanical religion?
Soon they will say any Rabbi that laughs or makes a joke is out.
I say get rid of these loons who think they are the keepers of Judaism.

[who knows]

1) Rabbi must never smile. A smile cheapens his knowledge.

2) Rabbi must always frown. A frown shows his importance.

3) Rabbi must never make never say YES. "Yes" cheapens his statue.

4) Rabbi must always say NO. "NO" shows how important the rabbi is.

5) Rabbi must never be dressed according to the weather. Dressing according to the weather cheapens rabbi's importance.

6) Rabbi must always wear the same clothes, since this shows his importance.

If anybody else follows these rules, he would be considred a fool. If a haredi rabbi follows these rules, he is considered a Gadol.

[Abracadabra]

Yochanan - Adorable!! Thanks so much!!!

[yitz]

They may be trying to get ahead of the Rabbah movement to avoid issues of kol ishah.

[Eliezer]

No, to whoever asked about "Singer sowing machines".... Singer doesn't make "sowing machines" - those are made by John Deere. If you want to make bad jokes, please at least spell them correctly.

How can the rabbinate be cheapened?

[Nathan]

I know what they are referring to. First, many israeli weddings are loud, obnoxious materialistic affais where the deafening DJ encourages the participants the welcome the bride and groom with applause, whoops, cat calls, sparkelers and fire works. There is hardly a drop of solemnity left. Some rabbis, knowing what pleases the crowd come on with a game show host MC style of banter including cheesy one liners interspered with pop songs, rap lines and old las vegas tunes. Think of a cross between Rabbi Eminem and Rabbi Liberaci. The bride is dressed like a conscipt to a turkish harem (Barbera Eden was much more Tznius in "I dream of Jeannie") The groom is trying his best to look like a middle eastern elvis impersonator...and the Rabbi? He's getting throught he religion thing as fast as possible, so he can get through his collection of Mother in law jokes and keep the auidience entertained.

Israeli weddings can be incredibly tasteless, lewd and materialistic. I have seen Rabbis who knowing where the wind is blowing, have learned to blend right in. I am certainly not fanatical and I do not support Religious coeercion in any way, but I must tell you, some of these weddings make my skin crawl. They are not even weddings (despite the use of a ring and the words "Harei At". They are Tacky thrid rate las vegas performances.

Yuck!