The Chief Rabbi of Beersheba, Rabbi Avraham Deri, warned that a public marriage proposal in which the groom gives a ring to the bride in front of witnesses could cause a major halachic problem during a statement at a Religious Services Ministry conference on Monday.
Deri, the nephew of Shas party leader Arye Deri, commented that the presentation of a ring in front of witnesses could meet the halachic conditions of kiddusin, the legal requirements for becoming a married couple according to the Talmud, which includes the groom presenting the bride with a ring in front of two valid witnesses, and a declaration of his "consecration" of her with a ring, "in accordance with the laws of Moses and Israel."
Deri warned that the "recent custom" of a marriage proposal including the exchange of a ring could, in certain cases, meet the halachic requirements for a full wedding rather than "merely a romantic gesture."
"[After a] marriage proposal conducted in a format in which the intended groom proposes marriage with a ring to the bride in the presence of friends and relatives, in the event where the groom afterward decides to retract the proposal, it could lead to a situation in which the couple would be required to obtain a get [become divorced in a religious court]," Deri said.
The level of concern over the issue depends on the precise circumstances of each case, including what words were said and how, the manner in which the engagement ring was exchanged, the presence and status of witnesses, and other details, the Religious Services Ministry clarified.
If there is any doubt, those involved should consult with a rabbi or certified marriage registrar, the ministry advised.
Deri was speaking at a study day for rabbis, marriage registrars, and religious council members throughout southern Israel, hosted by the Beersheba Religious Council. The study day conference "dealt not only with complex halachic questions facing the marriage system, but also with its technological failure," the organizers said.
Religious Services Ministry presents national digital infrastructure for managing marriage procedures
The ministry presented its "Shirat Hayam" system - a new national digital infrastructure for managing marriage procedures - during the conference.
As part of the conference, marriage registrars used the new system, including testing the online opening and management of marriage files, verification of documents against national databases, synchronizing systems with those belonging to the Chief Rabbinate's Office, computerizing documentation of procedures for verifying Jewish status and relationship status, and issuing secure digital certificates.
The Religious Services Ministry says it is aiming to use this initiative to make the system more accessible, efficient, and technologically advanced, while reducing bureaucracy and improving service to citizens.
"The series of innovative study days reflects our commitment to the continuous improvement of the service provided to citizens," Rabbi Hizkiyahu Samin, director of the Religious Services Ministry's Marriage and Rabbinate Division, said.
'Connection between deep halachic knowledge, advanced technological tools is inseparable part of process,' rabbi says
"The connection between deep halachic knowledge and advanced technological tools is an inseparable part of the process we are leading. The work in roundtables enables open dialogue and the adaptation of solutions to changing needs in the field, alongside the implementation of the most advanced tools in the marriage system," Samin added.
The ministry also clarified that additional study day conferences will be held in other parts of the country as part of the "comprehensive renewal process."