Same-Sex Marriage in Israel

The BBC reported last week that several gay couples would be married following Israel's gay pride parade in Tel Aviv. The article states that although the weddings will fit Jewish tradition, the couples will not be afforded any of the traditional benefits of marriage because the state only recognizes marriages that conform to the standards of the Orthodox establishment.

Haaretz, an Israeli news source, reports that five couples were married in a ceremony on the beach at sunset on Friday, June 12th. The ceremony followed the eleventh annual gay pride parade in Tel Aviv. The wedding followed traditional Jewish marriage rites, including the exchange of rings and vows before breaking a glass.