The Jewish Chronicle

Men wearing wedding rings

May 14, 2015 12:09

ByRabbi Julian Sinclair, Rabbi Julian Sinclair

1 min read

Should Jewish men wear wedding rings? There is currently some controversy about this. Opponents say that since it is not part of the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony for the man to receive a ring, wearing one after the wedding is gratuitously adopting a non-Jewish custom. There is a halachic category known as chukkat hagoy based on Leviticus 18, that prohibits certain practices where Jews imitate gentiles merely for the purpose of being like them.

However, proponents say that this isn't the case with men wearing wedding rings. There is a constructive purpose in doing so, namely to announce that one is married, show loyalty to one's wife and so avoid confusion, awkwardness and unpleasantness. This is not imitation for the sake of it. Rabbi David Stav, a prominent Israel religious Zionist rabbi, recently came out strongly in favour saying that if (like most of us) you work or study in a mixed environment it's a good thing to wear a wedding ring and certainly, if your wife asks you to, then joyfully agree.