The New Jersey Legislature has remedied a situation where, through a strict interpretation of a law passed in 1926, rabbis and other clergymen who were not regularly ordained, were denied the right to officiate at weddings. An act has been passed which removes existing doubts concerning the authority of clergymen not ordained to perform the ceremony. The new act removes the word “ordained” from the 1926 law and gives power to all clergy, ordained or appointed.
The matter came up during a discussion in the Assembly on the proposal of Assemblyman Chandless of Hackensack to amend the marriage laws of the State. During the discussion it was revealed that if the law passed two years ago were strictly interpreted, rabbis would be included among clergymen without authority to perform the marriage ceremony.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
