Poll finds drooping support for breaking Rabbinate monopoly on marriage

By Rossella Tercatin

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7 August 2025, 1:21 pm

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Rossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.

Illustrative photo of a couple having a wedding picture taken at the Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, April 2011. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

Support for freedom of marriage in Israel has declined, with 60 percent of Jewish Israelis now backing the recognition of all types of marriage — down from 67% in 2024 — according to a new survey by the Smith Research Institute commissioned by Hiddush, an organization advocating for religious freedom and equality.

Hiddush has conducted annual polling on the issue in the lead-up to Tu B’Av, the Jewish holiday of love, which this year falls on Saturday. While the surveys have consistently shown a clear majority in favor of breaking the Chief Rabbinate’s exclusive control over marriage, the latest results suggest a slight but notable decrease in support.

This year’s poll surveyed 900 Jewish Israelis and has a margin of error of ±3.3%. A review of past results shows similar variations: support stood at 63% in 2021, 68% in 2019, and 67% in 2017.

The share of Jewish Israelis who say they would personally prefer not to marry in an Orthodox ceremony also dropped slightly — from 50% in 2024 to 47% in 2025. Among those, 14% would choose a Conservative or Reform ceremony, 11% would opt for a civil wedding abroad, another 11% would marry online via Utah’s remote wedding service, and 11% would choose to live together without formal marriage.

Currently, the only way for Jewish couples to legally marry in an official ceremony inside Israel is through a wedding officiated by an Orthodox rabbi recognized by the Chief Rabbinate. However, weddings or civil unions conducted abroad are recognized by the state and offer couples the same legal status.

In March 2023, a landmark High Court ruling also required the Interior Ministry to recognize marriages conducted via online ceremonies offered by Utah.