Jewish tradition is having a moment; the Chief Rabbinate is not

“I chose the path of faith – and on the path of faith, I returned.”

With these words, Agam Berger described her journey home after 482 days in Hamas captivity. Her unwavering connection to Judaism became a lifeline during unimaginable hardship, and a beacon for countless young Israelis seeking meaning and stability in a time of deep national crisis.

Her story resonates deeply with a broader spiritual movement taking hold among Israel’s young adults. Since the Swords of Iron war began, 37% of 18–35-year-olds report stronger belief in God — nearly double the rate of older generations. This isn’t a passing sentiment; it’s a return. A return to faith, to tradition, to something deeper and more enduring.

But there’s a catch: they want Judaism, not coercion.

The Problem Isn’t Judaism. It’s the Rabbinate.

Young Israelis aren’t walking away from traditional Jewish practice. They’re walking away from a monopolized religious system that too often excludes, humiliates, and controls — especially women.

That truth comes through powerfully in Rate My Beit Din, Chochmat Nashim’s 2024 survey documenting women’s experiences in Israel’s rabbinic courts. One woman shared:

“I was so desperate to get out of the abusive marriage, I had no other option… the beit din refused to acknowledge the abuse and infidelity regardless of proof provided and victimized me by the document I was forced to sign.”

She’s not alone. The survey revealed that 41% of women waited over a year for their get (religious divorce), 32.6% were pressured to forfeit legal rights in exchange for it, and nearly half reported psychological harm from the process. 

Data That Demands Action

These aren’t isolated incidents — they’re symptoms of a system in crisis. That’s why Chochmat Nashim has recognized Chuppot as a working solution already protecting women from becoming agunot. 

“Until the Chief Rabbinate takes a hard look at the way the courts are run, the way women are treated, the stain this indignity puts on Torah and Halacha and implements changes to its approach, we recommend Chuppot as a safe halachic path for those who want a traditional Jewish wedding without the trap today’s marriages can become,” says Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll, co-founder of Chochmat Nashim.

Public Trust in the Chief Rabbinate the Lowest on Record

In parallel, public trust is crumbling: nearly 1 in 5 Israeli couples now marry outside the Rabbinate, 71% of Israelis believe the Rabbinate’s monopoly pushes people away from Judaism, and only 13% still trust the institution, the lowest rating ever documented.

This isn’t a rejection of faith; it’s a rejection of authoritarianism. Israelis aren’t abandoning Judaism. They’re demanding a version of it that upholds integrity, dignity, and choice.

Halacha with Integrity — Without Sacrificing Either

Chuppot upholds Halacha and respects the couple’s wishes by conducting Orthodox weddings in Israel — without the Rabbinate. Every couple signs a halachic prenuptial agreement that prevents both get refusal and classic aginut (women trapped in dead marriages). 

Since 2018, Chuppot has officiated over 1,700 weddings with demand rising 30% in 2024 alone.

Chuppot is Not the Alternative to Halachic Marriage; It is the Future of it

More than 80% of Chuppot couples are fully eligible to marry through the Rabbinate. They choose not to — not because they reject Halacha, but because they demand integrity.

The old system is flatlining. While Israel’s Jewish population grew by 20% over the past decade, Rabbinate-registered weddings barely moved. This signifies a call for halachic Judaism that honors women, upholds conscience, and speaks to the next generation.

Partnership for Change

Chuppot and Chochmat Nashim are joining forces to create a bold, values-driven Orthodox marriage model:

• Rooted in Halacha
• Committed to women’s protection
• Aligned with democratic and Zionist ideals

Together, we’re forging a path for Israelis who seek sacred commitment without surrender — who want a Judaism of conscience, not coercion. Chuppot is for all of those who want a marriage where both parties are safe from the worst case scenarios.

A Jewish mother should never worry when sending her daughter down the aisle. 

With Chuppot, she doesn’t have to.