An influential religious Zionist rabbi has declared that men and women may delay marriage up to the age of 24, despite that Jewish tradition recommends 18 as the ideal age of marriage. For years, the issue of marriage age has been a subject of great debate in the country's religious Zionist communities. While many people get married in their early 20s, there is a growing trend of remaining single until much later in life. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, head of the Har Bracha yeshiva, is the latest to weigh in on this issue, setting the new recommended age up to 24. In his weekly column in the religious newspaper Besheva, he states that according to tradition, marriage is supposed to happen at age 18, and that Talmud sages have warned that "a 20-year-old who has yet to marry will have a life filled with sinful thoughts." However, the rabbi says that since "higher incomes are needed today -- both from a religious and economic standpoint -- it is necessary to postpone marriage until after 20, but according to many rabbis, no later than 24."
Religious Zionist rabbi permits later marriage age
As religious Zionist debate continues over marriage age, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed sets latest recommended age at 24 • While traditionally, marriage should happen at age 18, he cites financial concerns as legitimate reason for delay.
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