Interfaith Marriage in Israel: The Options for Couples

Interfaith marriage in Israel, whether with a non-Jewish partner or with a partner who is not Jewish according to halacha, raises many questions: who will lead the ceremony, can you be registered as married, and what does it mean for the future? The short answer: the Rabbinate does not perform marriages when one partner is not Jewish by halacha, and there is no civil marriage in Israel. So interfaith couples usually combine a ceremony, such as a personal ceremony that weaves in both traditions, with a legal arrangement, such as a civil marriage abroad. In this article you will find the main options in plain language, whether you are an Israeli marrying a partner from abroad, a new immigrant, or a couple who has lived here for years. The information here is general and is not legal advice.

Why the Rabbinate Does Not Marry Interfaith Couples

In Israel, Jews marry through the Rabbinate according to Orthodox halacha. Under that halacha, a marriage between a Jew and someone who is not Jewish is not possible, so the Rabbinate will not perform it. This is true even when the partner has lived in Israel for many years, served in the army or feels fully part of the Jewish people. Couples in which one partner identifies with the Jewish people but is not recognized as Jewish by the Rabbinate are in the same situation.

Option One: A Jewish Ceremony for an Interfaith Couple

In Israel, Reform rabbis perform kiddushin only for two Jewish partners. For an interfaith couple, that leaves two paths that the site describes. The first is a personal ceremony without formal kiddushin, which brings together the traditions of both partners, with a chuppah, rings, vows and the breaking of the glass, in a cultural spirit rather than a strictly religious one. The second, for a partner who wishes it, is liberal (Reform) conversion, a process of study and of meeting the Jewish community.

A personal ceremony can include two languages, readings from both traditions, and blessings by family members from both sides. That turns the ceremony into a celebration of the meeting between you.

Good to know: a ceremony held in Israel outside the Rabbinate is not registered on its own as a marriage at the Ministry of Interior. To be registered as married, couples combine it with another arrangement.

Option Two: A Civil Marriage Abroad

The usual path for an interfaith couple who want to be registered as married in Israel is a civil marriage abroad, followed by registration with the Population Authority. According to Kol Zchut, the Israeli rights information site, the request for registration should be submitted within a short time of returning to Israel, with a certified marriage certificate and additional documents. Check the current requirements before you travel. More detail is on the page about civil marriage for Israeli couples.

A Utah Marriage

Many couples choose an online marriage through the State of Utah, without flying. Utah’s SB 257, signed on March 18, 2026 and in force since May 6, 2026, did not abolish online marriages. When the couple is not physically present in the same place as the officiant, the county posts a warning that an online marriage solemnized in Utah may be invalid in the country where the couple lives, and the officiant reads that warning verbatim right before the ceremony. In Israel, the Supreme Court ruled on March 7, 2023, in the Bril case, that the Ministry of Interior must register such marriages. The ruling concerns registration only; it did not decide the substantive validity of the marriage. Before choosing this path, check the current situation with a lawyer.

Option Three: Common-Law Spouses

Some couples do not register as married and live as common-law spouses (yeduim batzibur). In this situation you can enjoy many rights, but not all of them, and it is important to set out the relationship in documents and in a cohabitation agreement. Look at this option with a lawyer and compare it with a civil marriage.

The Status of the Foreign Partner in Israel

If your partner is not an Israeli citizen, there is a separate question of status in Israel: a residence visa, residency and possibly, later, citizenship. This is a separate process at the Population Authority, with its own rules. The wedding and the registration can affect it, but they do not replace it. In such cases it is very important to consult an immigration lawyer, already before the ceremony.

What About Conversion?

Some partners choose to convert, for example through Reform conversion, which is a process of study and of meeting the community. It is a deep personal and religious choice. If you are considering conversion, do it out of real desire, and look separately into what it means, both religiously and legally.

Divorce for an Interfaith Couple

No one marries in order to divorce, but it is worth knowing: according to the information on Kol Zchut, an interfaith couple who married abroad and registered in Israel usually turns to the family court in a dissolution of marriage proceeding, not to the rabbinical court. A prenuptial agreement drawn up in advance with a lawyer can spare disputes in the future.

And What About the Children?

Many parents ask about their children’s status. In civil terms, children’s rights toward their parents do not depend on whether the parents are married. The religious question, whether the children will be considered Jewish by the Rabbinate, depends on Orthodox halacha, under which Jewish status passes through the mother. It is a sensitive question, worth discussing openly between you, and if needed with a rabbi and a lawyer.

How to Build a Ceremony for Two Cultures

A ceremony for an interfaith couple is a chance to tell the story of two families. A few ideas couples include:

• Blessings in Hebrew alongside blessings in your partner’s language.
• A reading or a song from each of the traditions.
• A family custom from the other side, such as a grandmother’s blessing or a ring custom.
• A short explanation for the guests of the meaning of the chuppah and the breaking of the glass, so that everyone feels part of it.
• An egalitarian ketubah or covenant in two languages.

The goal is for every guest, from both sides, to feel that the ceremony speaks to them too. A general overview of the legal situation in Israel is on the page about the legal status of marriage in Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a Reform rabbi marry us if one of us is not Jewish?

In Israel, Reform rabbis perform kiddushin only for two Jewish partners. For an interfaith couple, Rabbi Mordecai offers a personal ceremony without formal kiddushin, and a partner who wishes can choose Reform conversion. Ask about it in the introductory conversation.

Can we register as married in Israel if one of us is not Jewish?

Yes, through a civil marriage abroad and registration with the Population Authority. A ceremony held in Israel outside the Rabbinate is not registered on its own. This is general information and not legal advice.

What changed for Utah marriages with SB 257?

The law did not abolish online marriages, but when the couple and the officiant are not in the same place, a warning is read before the ceremony that the marriage may be invalid in the country where the couple lives. Check with a lawyer before you decide.

Do we need a conversion to have a chuppah?

No. A personal ceremony without formal kiddushin can include a chuppah. Conversion is a personal and religious choice, not a condition for such a ceremony.

What about the foreign partner’s status in Israel?

That is a separate process at the Population Authority. It is best to consult an immigration lawyer before the ceremony.

In Summary

A wedding with a non-Jewish partner in Israel is possible, moving and can carry a lot of Jewish meaning, even if it does not go through the Rabbinate. It helps to separate two things: the ceremony, in which you choose the words and the traditions, and the legal arrangement, for which a lawyer’s help is worthwhile. The information here is general and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like to hear how a shared ceremony for your two cultures could be built, you can contact the rabbi.