A person cannot perform his own marriage ceremony in the Province of Quebec, Associate Chief Justice W.B. Scott ruled here in annulling a marriage contracted by a rabbi in Montreal nearly three years ago. The marriage was performed in accordance with Hebrew law and in the presence of several witnesses, but was not listed in any civil register.
Annulment was granted at the petition of the rabbi who recalled in his plea that his wife by an earlier marriage was alive and that that marriage had never been dissolved. The judge reprimanded the plaintiff rabbi, considering the position he occupied in the community. He said that the defendant also had not acted in good faith, as from the evidence the court was satisfied that she knew the plaintiff’s wife was still living at the time of the second marriage.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
