Title: Israeli rabbis offer nod to some civil marriages
Source: MSN site

Author: …..
Date of Publication: July 19, 2007

Summary:

Israel’s rabbis granted a permit with no precedent in the history of the nation. They now permit civil marriages in the Jewish State. This is in support of the government which aims to ease tensions between the secular and religious Jews. Religious parties of the Parliament have come to the understanding of the needs of the people who, many times, in order to avoid extreme religious orthodox rituals, travel abroad to get married. Despite this great step, the problem arises if ultra-orthodox rabbis will regard someone as Jewish or not. For them, some immigrants who become Israelis citizens under the Law of Return are not considered Jewish by them.

Personal reaction:

This article was a real surprise by me, because ultra-orthodox Jewish are extremely strict when it comes to marriage, there are a lot of rituals to be respected, and people who are secular prefer to travel abroad in order to get married. Israel is surprisingly divided in terms of religious levels of observance. Most of the people are not religious at all. In opposite, there is a great sense of patriotism and pride for the heritage which has been passed to them, which has nothing to do with following contemporary rabbis’ decisions and restrictions, restrictions which rule the vast majority of the country, interfering with the lives of those who do not follow them.
Vocabulary:
grant (give) verb [T]
to give or allow someone something, usually in an official way:
[+ two objects] They granted her an entry visa.
He was granted asylum.
FORMAL She granted their request/wish.
draw sth up (PREPARE) phrasal verb [M]
to prepare something, usually something official, in writing:
I’ve drawn up a list of candidates that I’d like to interview.
sanction (APPROVAL)
noun [U]
approval or permission, especially formal or legal:
They tried to get official sanction for the scheme.

sanction
verb [T]
to formally permit something:
The government was reluctant to sanction intervention in the crisis.

dunk
verb [T]
1 to put a biscuit, bread, etc. into a liquid such as tea or soup for a short time before eating it:
She dunked a biscuit in her tea.

2 INFORMAL to put something into liquid for a short time:
Dunk the sponge in water every now and then to stop it from drying out.

3 US to slam-dunk

hail (CALL)
verb [T] SLIGHTLY FORMAL
to call someone in order to attract their attention:
Shall we hail a taxi?
deputy
noun [C]
a person who is given the power to do something instead of another person, or the person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organization:
I’d like you to meet Ann Gregory, my deputy.
I’m acting as deputy while the boss is away.
She’s deputy (head) of a large North London school.
the deputy chairperson/manager/US sheriff/etc.

deputize, UK USUALLY deputise
verb [I]
I’m deputizing for (= doing the job of) the director during his absence.
vow
verb [T]
to make a determined decision or promise to do something:
[+ (that)] The guerillas vowed (that) they would overthrow the government.
[+ to infinitive] After the awful meals we had last Christmas, I vowed to do more of the cooking myself.

vow
noun [C]
a serious promise or decision:
[+ to infinitive] She took/made a vow never to lend money to anyone again.

shun
verb [T] -nn-
1 to avoid something:
She has shunned publicity since she retired from the theatre.

2 to ignore someone and not speak to them because you cannot accept their behaviour, beliefs, etc:
After the trial he was shunned by friends and family alike.