Shule which weds couples “regardless” gets JCCV membership

An unaffiliated Melbourne community whose founding rabbi will officiate at Jewish weddings for couples regardless of whether both partners are Jewish has joined the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.

Shtiebel, which is unaffiliated to any stream of Judaism, was admitted at the JCCV plenum on Monday, August 17.

Addressing delegates, founder and executive director Rabbi Gersh Lazarow said he believed he was “the only rabbi in Melbourne who will officiate at Jewish weddings for couples, regardless of whether they both identify or [are] recognised as being Jewish”.

He said many Jewish couples who had grown up through Jewish day schools, youth movements and communal organisations did not wish to say the words of the traditional marriage formula, k’dat Moshe v’Yisrael, because they were not theists.

“If we weren’t here doing the work that we were doing, then they would have to have a civil wedding when what they want is a Jewish wedding,” he said.