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Sept. 15, 1967

SACRAMENTO — A bill was introduced in the State Senate here which, for the first time, would officially perms rabbis in California to perform marriages. The measure was introduced by Senator Anthony C. Bellinson, a Los Angeles Democrat.

Through what the senator called “a legislative oversight,” the state’s Civil Code, as it stands now, permits performance of marriages only before “judges, priests or ministers of the gospel.” The new law would add the word “rabbis” to that list.

The Senator noted that rabbis have always been permitted to perform marriages in this state, saying his bill calls only for a technical change. He has assured persons who have inquired about the subject that marriages heretofore performed in California by rabbis would “undoubtedly be held constitutionally legal if challenged.”

From the J. Archive is a weekly feature. Our 1967 and 1904 archives are available online. To find out how you can help us complete digitization of our archive, email J. Editor Sue Fishkoff.