Let's suppose a couple was married by a Reform rabbi in a standard reform ceremony (with egalitarian ketubah, and many other modifications to traditional kiddushin). If the couple later become baalei teshuvah, are they required to perform kiddushin again (or, I suppose, if the first wedding didn't count, for the first time)?
Is the case any different if the couple was married in a Conservative ceremony?
Related: Are civil divorces not recognized by Orthodox rabbis?
Answer
R' Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (פירושי אירבא סימן ד) held that it does not actually matter if the wedding was valid, as they are living together with intent to be married. Rav Henkin adopted the novel view that even if their intent to be married is not necessarily through Kiddushin, and even if they don't know that consumation of marriage can create Kiddushin, they are still married. According to this opinion, the question about the wedding itself really becomes moot.
However, most opinions did not accept the view of R' Henkin.
I was told that R' Elyashiv held that there is a problem with the normal procedure of a Reform and Conservative wedding which would invalidate the Kiddushin. Kiddushin is effected by the man giving something of value to the woman. R' Elyashiv understood that a two-ring ceremony is not a "gift" from one to the other, but is rather an exchange. The bride giving a ring to the groom in reciprocation to his giving a ring to her invalidates this as an act of Kiddushin. I was once at a Conservative wedding where the officiating Rabbi was sensitive to this issue - after the groom gave the ring to the bride, the Rabbi announced "The Kiddushin ceremony is now over. However, Cindy has indictated that she would also like to give a ring to Joel, which will be done now." I think this would obviate R' Elyashiv's concern, but it is atypical to your standard Reform or Conservative wedding.
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