New solution for same-sex Jewish weddings

Both partners should have the honour of breaking the glass in same-sex Jewish weddings, a group of secular, pluralist rabbis have announced.

The compromise is a solution to a long-standing dilemma facing the gay Jewish community, proposed by Havayah, an organisation responsible for arranging "lifecycle events".

The breaking of the glass is a central part of Jewish marriage ceremonies, harking back to the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

In a traditional union, the couple will drink wine at the climax of the ceremony, before the groom crushes a glass beneath his foot.

According to some superstition, the size of the glass fragments dictate how long the marriage will last.

"The breaking of the glass, a staple of every Jewish wedding, is used to remember the egregious hatred that led to the destruction of the Second Temple," said Ofer Korenfeld, chairman of Havayah.

"This message is particularly pertinent to the homo-lesbian community, which is the target of such much hatred."

In Israel, same-sex marriages are not recognised by the state, but gay couples are permitted to adopt children.

Havayah is part of a growing movement known as Jewish Renewal, which encourages secular Israelis to retain their ties with Jewish culture.

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