The consequences of the corona crisis are different and strange. From a decrease in air pollution, through an increase in the consumption of streaming services “Netflix”, to changes in the ancient and joyous ceremony, the wedding. Today (Thursday) the Ministry of Religious Affairs announces the changes that have taken place in the world of weddings and this year’s marriage ceremonies in the Israeli public.
The data, which are being published today, indicate a general decrease of about 25 percent in the number of couples who registered for marriage in 2020, according to the marriage report for the year in which the corona virus entered our lives. Haifa and Givatayim, which are known for their particularly secular character, saw a decrease of about 28 percent, while in Ramat Gan, Ramat Hasharon and Herzliya the decrease was smaller, standing at about 20 percent. About 12 percent.
The report noted a number of surprising data: According to CBS data, there is a 7.5 percent decrease in the number of Israelis marrying in a civil marriage. There is also a dramatic increase in the number of couples living together without marriage. It is also written that a number of associations have been established that invest a lot of money in order to encourage couples to marry outside the framework of the rabbinate, as an example of an “equal marriage” campaign.
The explanatory memorandum states: “According to CBS data, there is a 2 percent increase in the number of residents of the State of Israel each year, of which 81 percent is due to a natural increase (difference between births and deaths) and 19 percent from the migration balance (difference between descendants and new immigrants). . When you add the percentage decrease in 2020 in the number of marriage files (13 percent) and the percentage increase in the number of residents (2 percent), it is found that in 2020 there is a decrease of 15 percent registered for marriage compared to the number of registrants in 2019, considering the fact in the last five years There is a downward trend of about 5 percent in the number of those registering for marriage in Israel. ”
There are 160 marriage bureaus in Israel, of which 137 operate within the religious councils and 33 operate outside the religious councils.