The Israel Religious Expression Platform (iRep), a consortium of US Jewish federations and private foundations, has awarded grants to Israeli nonprofits that are meant to encourage Israelis to marry outside the auspices of the haredi-controlled official state Chief Rabbinate.
US Jewish Federations And Foundations Form Consortium To Financially Support Breaking State-Enforced Haredi Monopoly Over Marriage In Israel
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The Israel Religious Expression Platform (iRep), a consortium of US Jewish federations and private foundations, has awarded grants to Israeli nonprofits that are meant to encourage Israelis to marry outside the auspices of the haredi-controlled official state Chief Rabbinate, the JTA reported.
The Jewish federations involved in iRep are reportedly Ann Arbor, Boston, Cincinnati, Greensboro, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, St. Louis and Washington, DC.
Recipients of the iRep grants reportedly include Od Yishama (affiliated with the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism) the Masorti (Conservative) Movement, Israel Hofsheet (Be Free Israel), the religious freedom nonprofit Hiddush, and the moderate Zionist Orthodox Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah.
Israel has no civil marriage, and non-Orthodox weddings performed in Israel are not recognized under law. Orthodox weddings performed outside the auspices of the state Chief Rabbinate and its affiliates is technically illegal.