Marriage Suitability (Nissuin)

The Talmud in Tractate Kiddushin 6a writes whoever is not well versed in the laws of marriage and divorce should not undertake to perform the marriage ceremony.

It is interesting to note that the Shulchan Aruch Even Hoezer section 49 writes that the main area of concern was that perhaps through a lack of knowledge inadvertently the Rabbi may perform a wedding ceremony for a couple who are prohibited to marry. Resulting in offspring that would have the status of mamzeirim.

A Rabbi must first ascertain that the groom and the bride are both of the Jewish faith. (see tab Certificate of Jewish Identity). However once this has been established that not necessarily means that the couple are permitted to marry al pi halacha according to Jewish Law.

Issues that need to be addressed include but not limited to.

1. The groom is a Cohen

2. The bride or her parents are geirim converts

3. The bride is a divorcee

4. Yibum and Chalitzah

5. Second marriages

6. Conservative and Reform marriage ceremonies

I present one of the many questions I have dealt with thereby demonstrating the complexities a Rabbi may face.

I recently had a case presented to me for rabbinic adjudication a mere two weeks before the marriage was to take place. The groom was a cohen and the bride’s father was not Jewish. She had previously been married at a conservative ceremony and subsequently received a get from an Orthodox Bes Din.

What a Rabbi needs to be conscious of is a situation where halacha raises serious questions about the permissibility of the couple to marry and the Rabbi may be unaware that there is any issue of concern.

I offer the service whereby after the necessary investigation and halachic issues have been thoroughly addressed a document of permission or prohibition will be issued in relation to the forth coming marriage.

The following is the list of items that are required in order to issue a Certificate of Marriage. This process usually takes around 2-3 weeks, but can vary depending on the necessary research that may need to be undertaken.

All documentation should be scanned and emailed

Please explain the reason if you are unable to supply any of the necessary documentation. We will need to schedule a brief interview with you.

There may be a need to schedule interviews with other members of your family. These interviews can take place via video conference.

If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to be in contact via email yacovbarber@gmail.com There is a $150 fee per applicant. The fee is for administration purposes, and is non refundable. Payment can be made on line.

Identification

A copy of your passport or driver’s license
A copy of your full birth certificate
One selfie head shot for the certificate

Verification of Jewish Status

A letter from an orthodox rabbi that is well acquainted with your family and who can confirm that you are Jewish
A copy of your parent's Ketuba
Any other documents or items that can confirm your Jewishness (examples would be a diploma from a Jewish day school, grandparents' burial records from a Jewish cemetery, pictures of tombstones or letters from family members describing Jewish practices, among other things)
If any of your siblings have been married in an orthodox ceremony a copy of their Ketuba

Verification of Single Status

I will need notarized letters from two friends. The letter should contain the following information.
How long the friend has known you
That the friend knows that you are single and have never been married
The friend's address
The friend's telephone number
We require these 2 letters to be notarized - it is insufficient for them just to be signed. Please also bear in mind that we may call the individuals who write your letters to follow up.

Marriage Authorization Form

Personal Information

Your Name *

First

Last

Intended Spouses Name *

First

Last

Date of Proposed Wedding

Name of Officiating Rabbi

First

Last

Your Home Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

Postal Code

Country

Email *

Phone *

Place of Birth

Date of Birth

Gender

Hebrew or Jewish name

Are you a Cohen

Conversion

Were you born Jewish

Are you a convert

Date of conversion

Upload your Geirut Certificate

Were you adopted

Marriage

Have you been married before

Was it an orthodox ceremony

Is your intended related to you in anyway

Divorce

Have you been divorced before

Date of divorce

Upload your Divorce Certificate

Family Information

Your father’s name

Was your father born Jewish

Is your father a cohen

Is your father still alive

Your mother’s name first last

Maiden name

Was your mother born Jewish

Is your mother a convert

Date of conversion

Is your mother still alive

Your mother’s Hebrew name

Date of your parent’s wedding

Location of that wedding

Name of officiating Rabbi

Were you born of your mother’s first marriage

Was your mother a widow when she married your father

Did your mother have a child from that marriage

Did her deceased first husband have any brothers

Did your mother perform the chalitzah ceremony

Date of chalitzah ceremony

Was your mother a divorcee when she married your father

When did she receive her divorce certificate

Do you have any siblings (include deceased if applicable)

Please upload the following documents

Photo I.D.

Parent's Ketuba

Original full birth certificate

Conversion certificates if applicable

Divorce certificates if applicable

Chalitzah certificates if applicable

I hereby certify and affirm that all the information provided above is true and correct in every detail.

Name

Click here for - Marriage Suitability Payment