THE ONLY EXISTENTIAL THREAT IS INTERNAL:

A kohen and divorcee, a Jewess and a non-Jew, a convert and a kohen. These couples are the first voices in a new campaign by the Ne'emanei Torah v'Avodah campaign to raise awareness of couples who cannot marry in Israel, according to halakha, and find a civil solution their problem.

The Ne'emanei Torah v'Avodah (Loyal to Torah and Labor), is a religious Zionist movement that seeks to restore religious Zionism to its roots by integrating Torah with science, Zionism and modern life. Its purpose is to strengthen the integration of religious society into the general society in Israel to promote tolerance, equality and justice and to shape the Jewish-democratic character of Israeli society. The movement is committed to Halacha-Jewish Law, creating an open and critical religious culture and addressing the halachic challenges of time.

In the campaign launched today, couples in Israel are calling for the State of Israel to find a solution for them and to allow a civil registration for these couples.

"The truth is that I never thought about it, because it seems natural that if a couple wants to, they marry. But when the moment came, we had to deal with it. I come from a home that had a lot of education in Judaism and tradition and we wanted to get married," says Rinat Mezritz, a divorcee who lives in a relationship with Gilad Cohen. They have three children but are unable to register as a partner in Israel.

"You feel like a second-class citizen. It takes the wind out of the sails, and makes you a bit anti," says Gilad, her partner.

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