
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.