Arbel and Nadav, both recognized as Jewish by the State of Israel, were outraged when the Rabbinate’s restrictive process questioned and investigated Nadav’s Jewishness due to his Russian birth. Refusing the Rabbinate’s humiliating, discriminatory process, they chose an Orthodox Jewish wedding with Chuppot. Rivka Arbiv, Chuppot’s CEO, criticizes the Rabbinate’s growing scrutiny over Jewish identity, forcing lifelong Jews to prove their heritage.

Rabbi Elhanan Miller has been performing Orthodox weddings outside the Rabbinate for over five years, marrying 19 couples through Chuppot. When it came time for his own wedding, he naturally selected Chuppot, reflecting his deep commitment to providing access to Jewish marriage in Israel without coercion from the Rabbinate’s restrictive policies. “Our wedding is not just a private event,” states Rabbi Elhanan, “but also a public statement about the right of every Jewish couple in Israel to choose how to marry.

In this interview, our CEO, Rivka Arbiv, outlines Chuppot’s strong opposition to Rabbi Law II, which centralizes religious authority under the Minister of Religious Services and strips power from local representatives. Rivka emphasizes that Chuppot firmly believes in decentralization, ensuring decision-making remains with local communities rather than expanding the Rabbanut’s monopolistic control, a shift that threatens religious freedom and accessibility in Israel.

Hilary Faverman, Chuppot’s new Resource Development Manager, shares her transformative professional journey following the traumatic events of October 7th. Confronting the profound impact of the war, she sought efficacy – and pursued meaningful, results-driven methods to contribute to Israeli society. This introspection led her to Chuppot, where she found purpose in driving tangible change within Israel’s religion and state landscape.

Just prior to the (delayed) elections for Chief Rabbinate, Chuppot’s CEO, Rivka Arbiv, asserts that authoritarian control over marriage and divorce is collapsing as more Israelis seek alternatives. She proposes that decision-makers must embrace reform and appoint leadership that serves all Israelis, ensuring freedom of choice in marriage rather than coercion.

Rav Aaron Leibowitz, Chuppot’s founder, proposes that Rabbis have a dual responsibility: to unite Jewish couples in marriage and protect both partners from get-refusal. A halachic prenuptial agreement is a proven tool to prevent this injustice. Rav Aaron proposes that Israel’s Chief Rabbi must mandate its signing, just as the ketubah was standardized, ensuring Jewish marriage protects the vulnerable and upholds justice.

In Justice Unbound, a podcast focusing on women, religion, and the State of Israel, Rivka Lubitsch interviews Rabbi Kalman Pesach (Chuck) Davidson on Chuppot’s mission to provide Orthodox marriage ceremonies outside the Chief Rabbinate. They discuss the Rabbinate’s restrictive monopoly, its politicization, and its role in distancing Jews from Judaism, emphasizing the need for religious freedom in marriage for future generations.

Roni, a secular bride, married through Chuppot to avoid the Chief Rabbinate’s control. Though her partner wanted a halachic wedding, she rejected an institution she sees as exclusionary. In The Liberal Magazine, she highlights that many Israelis are rejecting the Rabbinate’s monopoly. Her fully halachic but unregistered wedding made Roni, along with our Chuppot Rabbi, criminals under Israeli law.

Gila, a Chuppot bride, was denied mikveh access and treated as a second-class citizen for marrying outside the Chief Rabbinate. Through Chuppot, she married within halacha while maintaining her dignity and Jewish heritage. CEO Rivka Arbiv asserts that Judaism belongs to all Jews and calls to dismantle the Rabbinate’s monopoly.

Rabbi Kalman Pesach (Chuck) Davidson, our Director of Halacha, argues that the Chief Rabbinate’s rigid approach to Jewish identity and conversion excludes many who not only identify as Jewish but are indeed Jewish according to Halacha as it is properly understood. He advocates for a more inclusive halachic path, aligning with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s rulings, and calls for alternatives to the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly on religious services.

In regards to the election of a new Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rivka Arbiv, our CEO, argues that at this point, the Chief Rabbi is merely a political appointment serving political interests. Given that the Chief Rabbi exclusively controls Jewish marriage and divorce, his prolonged absence exposes a deeper crisis – not just bureaucratic but one that affects thousands of Israelis trapped in a flawed, monopolized religious system.

The Chief Rabbinate Council dissolves today at midnight, leaving Israel without Chief Rabbis or a functioning council. Our CEO, Rivka Arbiv, views this situation as a missed opportunity for reform, criticizing political interference in Rabbinic appointments and warning that unqualified, politically connected Rabbis will soon be reinstated instead of professionals serving all Israelis.

Rivka Arbiv, our CEO, exposes how the Chief Rabbinate’s collapse reveals profound systemic failures, while also creating a pivotal opportunity for reform. With political interference consistently ensuring that Rabbis are appointed through nepotism rather than merit, Israelis nationwide are increasingly rejecting the Rabbinate. Rivka envisions a vibrant Jewish future built on choice, not coercion.

Immediately following the election for the new Chief Rabbi of Israel, ​​our CEO, Rivka Arbiv, argues that the elections themselves shine a spotlight on deep systemic failures. She warns that the newly elected Rabbis are unlikely to enact meaningful change, as Israelis increasingly reject religious coercion. Without reform, the Rabbinate risks further losing relevance as people seek alternatives within kashrut, conversion, and marriage.

Our CEO, Rivka Arbiv, warns that the Chief Rabbinate has shifted from a respected spiritual authority to an institution of religious coercion, bureaucracy, and nepotism. As Israelis increasingly reject its authority, she calls for collective reform – urging the Rabbinate to embrace inclusivity. Relinquishing power will not weaken it, asserts Rivka; it is the only chance it has to survive.

Chuppot is advocating for a new authorization document (Shtar Bitachon) allowing soldiers to prevent their wives from becoming agunot if severe wartime injury leaves them unconscious and unable to grant a get. As medical aginut cases rise, Chuppot and other organizations are advocating for this document to become a standard safeguard for military families.

As one of the Israeli organizations working to prevent aginut, alongside Kolech, Itim, Mavoi Satum, and Yad L’isha, Chuppot is actively promoting the use of Sh’tar Bitachon, a halachic authorization ensuring women can receive a get if their husband goes missing, is severely injured, or becomes cognitively incapacitated. Based on Rabbinic precedents, this document protects women from being trapped in marriage due to war or medical crises.

Rivka Arbiv, our CEO, highlights that a new law (called the Rabbi Law) will give the Religious Services Minister full control over appointing Rabbis and funding religious services, bypassing local communities. She argues that this so-called “reform” is simply a ruse to centralize power, prioritizing political control over inclusion while enforcing a rigid, state-controlled religious monopoly.

Chuppot has experienced a 30% rise in marriage within 2023 inquiries as Israelis seek alternatives to the Chief Rabbinate. Our founder, Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, and our CEO, Rivka Arbiv, attribute this surge to political tensions, and asserts that couples turn to Chuppot for a Jewish ceremony free from state control, emphasizing choice and inclusivity.

Rabbi Chuck Davidson, our Director of Halacha and a leader in non-coercive Orthodox alternatives to Israel’s Chief Rabbinate as well as an Av Beit Din of an independent conversion court, discusses Israel’s 500,000 non-halachic Jews. He highlights the Chief Rabbinate’s approach to conversion, the Rav Ovadia Yosef–Rav Elyashiv debate on Jewish lineage, and the authority of Beit Din in conversions.

Chuppot reports a 16% rise in couples choosing Orthodox weddings outside the Rabbinate, citing fears of growing religious control. One bride explains, “We feel that the religious coercion in this country is getting out of hand.” Our founder, Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, notes a more dramatic curve in demand within 2023, with couples avoiding civil registration to bypass Rabbinical courts.

Following extensive study, Rabbi Kalman Pesach (Chuck) Davidson, Director of our Halacha department, asserts that even those observing mourning customs have many permissible days for marriage during the Omer. He argues that the Chief Rabbinate should allow weddings within halachic boundaries, as historical variations and modern holidays like Yom HaAtzmaut provide a valid basis for leniency.

Chuppot reports a 30% rise in inquiries this year as more couples seek Halachic weddings outside the Chief Rabbinate. Hadas Abutbul, a Chuppot bride, explains, “We both deeply love Judaism. For me, it was clear that I wanted to get married according to Halacha, but I don’t particularly like the way the Chief Rabbinate operates today.”

Chuppot is growing as more Israelis seek a service-focused, respectful alternative to Orthodox marriage within the Chief Rabbinate. With a 30% rise in inquiries, most couples come for ideological reasons, driven by concerns over religious coercion. Our founder, Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, affirms, “Our goal is to provide a responsible, Halachically valid option for couples who cannot or choose not to marry through the Rabbinate.”

Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, our founder, explains his support for the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade, emphasizing empathy and listening to LGBTQ+ voices. He condemns violence and urges respectful dialogue, recognizing the struggle of the gay community. Rav Aaron calls for understanding within religious circles, advocating for inclusion and constructive discussions.

Our founder, Rabbi Aharon Leibowitz, once opposed the Jerusalem Pride Parade but changed his stance after Shira Banki’s murder. While upholding Halacha, he recognizes LGBTQ+ individuals’ dignity and right to live fully. He now marches in solidarity at the Jerusalem Pride Parade, affirming, “They deserve to live. Proudly.”

Chuppot is experiencing a 30% rise in demand as more couples seek Halachic weddings outside the Rabbinate. “The Rabbinate’s monopoly drives couples away from both Jewish tradition and Judaism itself,” says Chuppot founder Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz. Chuppot’s growing popularity highlights the demand for Halachic yet independent wedding options – and a growing loss of faith in the Chief Rabbinate’s authority.

Nearly 25% of Israeli couples now marry outside the Rabbanut, seeking a Jewish wedding aligned with their values. Hundreds of these couples are coming to Chuppot. An increasing number of secular couples are opting for Orthodox ceremonies without Rabbanut involvement, citing concerns over government control in marriage and divorce. This shift reflects a growing desire for personal religious expression without institutional coercion.

Attorney Elad Kaplan explores the ethical risks of the Chief Rabbinate’s digital ancestry verification system, which many couples find invasive and humiliating. As more Israelis turn to Chuppot for Halachic weddings, bypassing the Rabbinate, Kaplan warns of a shift from “the Jewish people” to “the Jewish database”, raising privacy and discrimination concerns.

Lian and Ben chose Chuppot for their wedding outside the Chief Rabbinate, seeking an Orthodox, egalitarian ceremony. “The Rabbinate does not represent Judaism for us,” Lian explains. As tensions over religion and state relations grow, more couples bypass the Rabbinate, opting for Halachic yet independent weddings that align with their values.

Our founder, Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, leads the fight against Israel’s religious service monopoly. He warns that Simcha Rothman’s legislative changes aim to dismantle kosher certification reform, stifling competition and preserving the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly, ultimately harming business owners, consumers, and the integrity of kosher supervision.

Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, Chuppot’s founder, criticizes a new law that reinstates the Chief Rabbinate’s kashrut monopoly, reversing previous reforms that introduced competition. Rav Aaron argues that private kashrut certification ensures transparency and fairness, while the current system fosters corruption. The law, driven by political interests, harms businesses, consumers, and religious freedom in Israel.

This podcast explores marriage and divorce in Israel, questioning the Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly on religious services. It highlights Chuppot as a great option for Jewish Israelis who want a halachic wedding without the Rabbinate. Experts discuss legal challenges, alternative marriage paths, and the growing movement to separate religion from personal relationships.