The percentage of public support for the recognition of freedom of choice in marriage in Israel has continued to increase steadily. Further, the majority of the adult Jewish public now prefers to marry outside the Chief Rabbinate. These results arose from a special survey conducted by the Rafi Smith Polling Institute in honor of the Jewish holiday of Love - Tu b'Av - for Hiddush - Freedom of Religion for Israel, Inc. last week.
Jul 26th, 2018
69% of the Israeli public supports revoking the monopoly of the rabbinical courts on Jewish personal status matters, supports the establishment of a parallel civil system, and supports alternative, lenient rabbinic courts as a solution to alleviate the phenomenon of agunot
This is a strong expression of distrust in the Orthodox monopoly. International Agunah Day reminds us of the urgent need to dismantle the Orthodox monopoly on marriage and divorce in Israel.
Feb 27th, 2018
Hiddush's regular, periodic public opinion polling indicates that a great majority of the public opposes the Government's and Knesset's policies that prevent freedom of choice in marriage and divorce. This is contrary to one of the most fundamental rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948. Hiddush makes note of this today - in honor of International Human Rights Day. [Article 16 Human Rights: Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family.
Dec 10th, 2017
50% of the Jewish Israeli public prefers non-Orthodox marriage. A growing majority of the Jewish public is fed up with and rejects the Israeli government's position and wants Israel to join all other Western democracies in establishing marriage freedom.
Aug 7th, 2017
47% of Zionist Orthodox Israelis and 65% of voters for the Zionist Orthodox Jewish Home party support the establishment of same-sex marriage or civil unions in Israel.
Jun 8th, 2017
55% of the Jewish Israeli public and 81% of the secular Jewish Israeli public are interested in alternative marriages outside the auspices of Israel's Chief Rabbinate. This is the first time that a majority of the Jewish Israeli public has expressed a personal preference for marriages outside the Chief Rabbinate.
May 14th, 2017
87% believe that the rabbinical courts should force husbands to grant their wives divorces in cases of domestic violence.
Mar 21st, 2017
72% of Jewish Israelis and 76% of Arab Israelis support the statement that "every resident [of Israel] has the right to get married in Israel with whomever he chooses, in whatever way he chooses, and according to his beliefs."
Feb 19th, 2017
A revolution: About half of the Jewish public would prefer not to get married via the monopolistic, state empowered Chief Rabbinate
Oct 9th, 2016
Israeli Jews are tired of having this anti-egalitarian, irrelevant ritual forced upon them. The public wants a modernized Jewish ceremony.
Aug 18th, 2016