New Initiative Gives Recognition to Unrecognized Couples

January 7, 2008

In a victory for the concept of civil marriage, three Israeli municipalities now officially recognize the "Partnership Cards" issued by NIF grantee New Family, Organization for Family Rights. The cards, which detail the rights and responsibilities of a shared life, are signed by both partners and a lawyer. The cards have been issued to hundreds of couples including some of the 300,000 Russian speaking immigrants who are not entitled to marry in Israel because they are not recognized as halachically Jewish, to same-sex couples, and to Israelis protesting the Orthodox rabbinical monopoly on Jewish marriage in Israel.

Tel Aviv, Mevasseret Zion and Lod already recognize these cards and offer a range of rights to partners of city homeowners such as parking permits and discounts for municipal activities.

"The partnership card transforms a relationship," said New Family Chair Irit Rosenblum, "from a normative common law relationship to a contractual one. Municipalities cannot afford to ignore the card because it is a legal document signed by a lawyer that affirms a contract."