Havaya - An Israeli ceremony

We believe that every couple should be free to celebrate their love, marry, and separate according to their values, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or gender. Unfortunately, Israel does not allow civil marriages. The only way to legally marry or divorce in Israel is through the Orthodox religious institution, the Rabbinate. If a couple chooses to marry abroad, it is important to note that in the event of separation, the divorce must still be processed through the Rabbinical court.

Large segments of the population are being denied the freedom to choose and cannot marry and divorce through a religious institution. This may include immigrants whose Judaism is not recognized, Jews and converts from non-Orthodox denominations, individuals with no religious affiliation, interfaith couples, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, the liberal public feels that the Orthodox religious establishment does not reflect their values or way of life and therefore chooses to marry outside the Rabbinate.

So what options are there for couples who cannot or will not marry through the Rabbinate?

Havaya is here to provide the solution!

Wedding Ceremonies

At Havaya, we create meaningful and moving wedding ceremonies outside the Rabbinate. Whether you’re looking for a traditional Jewish chuppah with a personal twist or an entirely original ceremony, we will craft the perfect experience for your special day.

Havaya is bounded to no religious law, and we are honored to officiate weddings for all couples and celebrate their love. Ceremonies can take place any day of the week, and can incorporate multiple languages, officiants from different cultures and faiths. All to reflect your vision and values.

We offer a diverse network of experienced officiants nationwide who are deeply committed to celebrating your love. Our officiants are not religiously ordained. Their authority is rooted in their expertise in Jewish culture, their personality and skills, and their representation of the cultural identity of the largest and fastest-growing stream within the Jewish people today—the secular stream.

Protecting Your Rights

Weddings conducted by Havaya are not recognized by the State of Israel. Couples have two options for formalizing their relationship:

1. Civil marriage abroad – This allows couples to be officially registered as married in Israel. (Please note: heterosexual Jewish couples who marry abroad must still obtain a religious divorce through the Rabbinical Court in the event of separation.)

2. Common-law partnership – A unique legal status in Israel that was created to accommodate the growing number of Israelis who choose to avoid the religious establishment entirely, both for marriage and, if necessary, for separation.

Interested in learning more about the legal options for marriage outside the Rabbinate in Israel? Havaya invites you to schedule a legal consultation. You’ll receive reliable, up-to-date information and can take the necessary steps to formalize your status as a common-law couple by signing an affidavit and receiving a Shared Life Certificate.

Life-Cycle Ceremonies

We are here to accompany you through life’s most meaningful moments

Havaya knows that you may be reluctant to go through Orthodox religious ceremonies but still wish to mark life’s important milestones personally and meaningfully. We are here to customize your ceremonies and create a respectful, significant, meaningful ceremony that is aligned with your values. Whether it’s a Brit or naming ceremony, a bar or bat mitzvah, or a farewell and mourning ceremony, we will help you mark life’s most important moments in a way that reflects who you are.

Brit and Naming Ceremonies

Havaya will create a personal, joyful, and meaningful birth ceremony to welcome a daughter or son. We don’t just celebrate the birth—we celebrate the family, the bond, and the roots. Our ceremonies blend Jewish tradition with modern texts, Israeli poetry, music, and personal blessings, which align with your values and worldview. Whether you are planning a Brit, a naming ceremony for a daughter, or a Brit HaLev ceremony for adoptive families—we are here to guide, shape, and co-create the perfect celebration with you.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies

At the age of 12 or 13, our children are welcomed into adulthood. Havaya will craft your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony through dialogue designed to reflect their world and identity. We will help you shape a ceremony that is uniquely yours, including a Torah reading, a Drasha, or writing a speech that expresses your child’s growth and sense of belonging.

Funerals and Mourning Services

Havaya will tailor a funeral and mourning ceremony suited to commemorate your loved one in a way that reflects their lives. Our officiant will dedicate the time to getting to know your loved one and co-create a respectful, meaningful, and egalitarian ceremony that blends Jewish tradition with contemporary Israeli texts and music.

Who Are We?

Havaya – Israeli Ceremony is the largest center in Israel for ceremonies outside the Rabbinate. Each year, we conduct hundreds of weddings, Mitzvah ceremonies, Brit and naming rituals, and funeral and memorial services.

We serve thousands of individuals who, due to current Israeli law, are unable—or choose not—to marry through the Rabbinate. For all of them, we offer the opportunity to celebrate their love through a personal, meaningful wedding ceremony that reflects their values and wishes.

Havaya – Israeli Ceremony. A Ceremony That Is Truly Yours.

Havaya’s officiants originate from diverse backgrounds, such as education and the humanities, and all have undergone our specialized training.

Havaya was founded in 2006 as a center for life-cycle ceremonies, and since 2015, it has operated within the framework of Israel Hofsheet, with the aim of promoting personal freedom of choice and the fundamental right to marry in our own country.

צילום - ליה רוז מגן

A Word From Our Couples

“We reached out to Havaya because we wanted a non-Rabbinate organization that keeps the traditional ceremony while adapting it to suit us. We’re so happy with the process! From the first accommodating phone call to being matched with our officiant Shmulik and our meaningful meetings with him.”

Maya Lerner & Dan Ginat, 7.11.2024
Officiant: Shmulik Yad’an

(Photographer: Yuval Cohen)

“We knew we wanted something that feels Jewish, but not Rabbinate-Jewish. Friends told us about Havaya, and we loved the concept. After meeting our officiant Elizabeth, we knew it was the right choice. The process was attentive, at our pace, and tailored to us.”

Ella Tzur & Nimrod Sdot, 27.9.2024
Officiant: Elizabeth Goldwyn

(Photographer: Aviv Naveh)

“The experience was amazing – exactly what we pictured and more! Our officiant, Eyal, really listened and got to know us, and every one of his suggestions was golden. The ceremony itself was simply perfect! We received so many compliments about how moving it was.”

Omer Menda & Romi Shimoni-Finkel, 27.9.2024
Officiant: Eyal Mills

(Photographer: Hadar Bashari)