13.04.2026 • 4 Min.

This is the English version of a German episode. Getting married in Israel — but only through a religious ceremony. Civil marriage doesn't exist there. Jewish couples marry through the rabbinate. Muslim couples marry under Islamic law. But what about couples who aren't religious, belong to different faiths, or are in same-sex relationships? This goes back to a compromise made at the founding of the state in 1948. And many people still feel the consequences today. Every year, thousands of Israeli couples get married abroad — most of them in Cyprus. Israel recognizes those marriages, even though it doesn't allow them itself. This episode is about how that came to be, and why nothing has changed.Questions, feedback, or topic suggestions: podcast@elisabeth-krafft.de Editorial & Production: Elisabeth Krafft Originally published in German as: Warum heiraten jedes Jahr tausende Israelis im Ausland? This Podcast was translated with the help of AI.