To Remarry, Jewish Widow First Kneels to Custom | Womens eNews
source: http://www.womensenews.org/story/religion/100921/remarry-jewish-widow-first-kneels-custom
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Sarah (a pseudonym), was in her mid-20s when her husband died in an accident.
Once her grief had begun to subside, one of Sarah's friends introduced her to her brother.
"We took it slowly, but eventually I found myself coming out of the darkness," Sarah, who lives in central Israel and requested anonymity, recalled recently. "Life became sweet again."
In order to marry, the couple, who are not particularly religious, had to register at the stringently religious Rabbinate, the sole government agency with the authority to grant Jewish marriage permits.
No civil marriage exists in Israel and non-Orthodox marriages performed in the country are not recognized by the state.
When Sarah presented the registrar with her late husband's death certificate, he asked if her deceased husband had any children. When she said no, he asked whether her late husband had any brothers. Sarah said yes.
"Then you need to do the halitza ceremony," the registrar told her, she said. "Otherwise you won't be able to marry, ever."
Read the rest: http://www.womensenews.org/story/religion/100921/remarry-jewish-widow-first-knee...
Once her grief had begun to subside, one of Sarah's friends introduced her to her brother.
"We took it slowly, but eventually I found myself coming out of the darkness," Sarah, who lives in central Israel and requested anonymity, recalled recently. "Life became sweet again."
In order to marry, the couple, who are not particularly religious, had to register at the stringently religious Rabbinate, the sole government agency with the authority to grant Jewish marriage permits.
No civil marriage exists in Israel and non-Orthodox marriages performed in the country are not recognized by the state.
When Sarah presented the registrar with her late husband's death certificate, he asked if her deceased husband had any children. When she said no, he asked whether her late husband had any brothers. Sarah said yes.
"Then you need to do the halitza ceremony," the registrar told her, she said. "Otherwise you won't be able to marry, ever."
Read the rest: http://www.womensenews.org/story/religion/100921/remarry-jewish-widow-first-knee...
