My husband and I are immigrants from the former Soviet Union who married abroad before arriving in Israel. I am Jewish but he has no religion, though his father was Jewish. We signed an agreement to end our marriage and took it to the rabbinical court for approval. The rabbinical court authorised it although I have now heard that they can only end marriages where both sides are Jews. Where does this leave me ?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 23 June, 2022The rabbinical court only has jurisdiction to end marriages where both parties are Jews. “Mixed marriages”, such as one between a Jew and someone with no religion, have to be ended by the process of dissolution of marriage . Jurisdiction for this usually lies with the family court, and is governed by the Jurisdiction in the Matter of Dissolution of Marriage (Special Cases & International Jurisdiction) Act of 1969.
Where a rabbinical court has jurisdiction – when both parties are Jews – it can also authorise a property relations / divorce agreement regarding a couple’s finances,too. However, if only one side is Jewish then it cannot as it lacks jurisdiction.