Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 537

agunot

Illustrative: An Israeli reserve soldier and his wife pose for a picture after their wedding in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, October 25, 2023. (Erez Ben Simon/Flash90)
November 22, 2024, 4:44 pm
IDF rabbinate opposes asking troops to sign form ‘unchaining’ wives in case of disaster
While conditional divorces can free women in case of a husband’s disappearance or loss of mental faculties in battle, rabbis say pushing such a document on soldiers may hurt morale
By Mati Wagner
Supporters of Malky Berkowitz (Images courtesy of Adina Sash)
September 15, 2024, 12:47 am
New York woman at center of Orthodox ‘sex strike’ receives her divorce
Malky Berkowitz, who married her husband after a 15-minute in-person meeting, alleged he physically assaulted her and was sexually inappropriate with their three-year-old daughter
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Justice Isaac Amit at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, January 4, 2024. (Flash90/Yonatan Sindel)
January 16, 2024, 12:52 pm
Rabbinate delays divorce of a woman it helped wed but now says may not be Jewish
High Court of Justice orders rabbinical judges to discontinue their inquiry and nullify the marriage, after delaying since 2021
By Canaan Lidor
Illustrative: Demonstrators in support of 'agunot' rally outside the Justice Ministry in Jerusalem, July 7, 2011. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
September 9, 2023, 3:35 am
NJ court rules in favor of woman who used social media to lobby for Jewish divorce
Advocates for ‘agunot,’ whose husbands refuse to assent to religious divorce, celebrate ruling that said defendant had not harassed former partner with online posts seeking support
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Social worker Tami Gross, who was instructed to cover up with a cloak at the Haifa Rabbinic Court, June 21, 2023. (Mavoi Satum)
June 22, 2023, 2:11 am
Woman says she was ‘degraded’ by rabbinic court’s order to wear a cloak to cover up
Social worker accompanying client whose husband is refusing a divorce is told her short-sleeved shirt is not modest enough to appear before judges
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: A prisoner behind bars. (sakhorn38/ iStock via Getty images)
March 13, 2023, 2:28 pm
He was jailed for threats to kill his wife. A rabbinic court wants to reconcile them
David* violated restraining order, was sent to prison for 8 months while refusing to grant his wife Lital* a divorce; yet Haifa rabbinical judges suggest they seek ‘shalom bayit’
By Amy Spiro
The Neve Tirza women's prison in Ramle on May 23, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
September 11, 2022, 4:35 pm
In precedent, rabbis send woman to jail for refusing divorce from her husband
Until now, incarcerations have only been used on recalcitrant husbands, but a rabbinic court ruled that this sanction was the only way to get the wife to accept the ‘get’
By Judah Ari Gross
A general view of the Israeli parliament building, the Knesset, in Jerusalem, July 2015. (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)
September 8, 2022, 2:09 pm
Daily Briefing Sept. 8: Incredible shrinking women in the Knesset; religious reforms
Political correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn on National Unity disunity; religion reporter Judah Ari Gross on incentives to bury stillbirths and pressure on recalcitrant husbands
By ToI Staff
Lonna Ralbag, in white, with her attorneys at Israel's Supreme Court for her hearing against her recalcitrant husband in July 2022. (Yad La'Isha)
September 6, 2022, 4:02 pm
In precedent, rabbinic court says divorce refuser’s family can’t be buried in Israel
Group backing woman who’s been ‘chained’ for nearly 20 years hails move as a gesture showing Israel stands with her, but others see it as failing to address root issue
By Judah Ari Gross
The problem is unique to Orthodox Judaism, and especially ultra-Orthodoxy. (photo credit: Shutterstock/JTA)
June 15, 2022, 3:53 pm
Woman freed after being ‘chained’ in her marriage for 22 years
Tamar’s ex-husband fled to the US to evade child support payments and refused to grant her a divorce, preventing her from starting a new relationship and having more children
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative. In vitro fertilization (IVF) of an egg cell. (iStock by Getty Images/ man_at_mouse)
May 17, 2022, 8:28 pm
Health minister allows artificial insemination for ‘chained’ women
Israel has until now refused to let women whose husbands deny them a divorce get pregnant through donated sperm or IVF, due to fierce rabbinate opposition
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative: A woman stands outside the Jerusalem Rabbinic Court. (Nati Shohat/Flash 90)
April 5, 2022, 6:33 am
In rare ruling, rabbis uphold woman’s divorce, but deem her ex still married
After a ‘chained’ woman’s ex-husband claims he deliberately botched divorce ritual, rabbinic court say she’s still single, but he must issue another ‘get’ if he wants to remarry
By Judah Ari Gross
Esty Sompo jumps for joy after her former husband agreed to give her a ritual Jewish divorce on June 24, 2021. (Courtesy)
March 16, 2022, 3:12 pm
After 5 years as a ‘chained woman,’ Esty got her freedom this summer
To mark Yom Ha’aguna, The Times of Israel spoke with a woman who was able to obtain a divorce from her abusive husband, and those working to help others do the same
By Judah Ari Gross
Women's rights activists hold a rally outside the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court on March 8, 2021, during International Women's Day, in protest of their inability to divorce. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 8, 2022, 6:17 am
Ties that chafe: Israel’s stagnant marital system leaves thousands trapped
On International Women’s Day, activists and observers lament the tight rabbinate control over marriage and divorce in Israel, with few changes in the system expected anytime soon
By Amy Spiro
Rabbi Simcha Krauss speaks at a dinner hosted by Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi in his honor on Feb. 5, 2014. (Courtesy Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi)
January 24, 2022, 8:27 am
Rabbi Simcha Krauss, who fought for women’s rights in Orthodoxy, dies at 85
Krauss remembered as a ‘gentle giant’ who wielded his years of study and experience as pulpit rabbi and teacher of Talmud to free ‘chained women,’ support women’s prayer groups
By Shira Hanau
Load More
Sign in or Register
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.