Comments on: Tweet for freedom: #FreeHerNow

By: Shira Rebbetzin

Shira Rebbetzin — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:50:45 +0000

I know. My father helped write the official one.

By: Shira Rebbetzin

Shira Rebbetzin — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 02:48:58 +0000

Yeah, right. And where did you get that number from? Maybe there are thousands, but how are a few thousand agunos worth your attention compared to many more Russian and Ethiopian women who need to be able to marry for a first time?

By: Leah Zakh Aharoni

Leah Zakh Aharoni — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:08:05 +0000

Thank you Sharon for raising awareness for the aguna issue. It's an uphill battle and they need our support.

By: Sharon Marks Altshul

Sharon Marks Altshul — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:22:22 +0000

Anyone in the Washington, DC area please note:

As many of us know, Aharon Friedman, an individual living in Kemp Mill, has still neglected to give a get to Tamar Epstein. A peaceful protest rally is being planned by ORA outside the building in which he works on Capitol Hill.
Everyone make every effort to attend. Our strong attendance shows our support for Ms. Epstein and our disapproval of the fact that Aharon has not given a get. May the efforts, along with the tefillos, of many bring this tragic story to closure. The time and location of the rally follow below.

Thursday, February 28th.
11:45am – 1:15pm.
Longworth House Office Building.
Independence Avenue
between South Capitol Street SE and New Jersey Avenue SE.
Washington, DC

By: Sharon Marks Altshul

Sharon Marks Altshul — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:50:30 +0000

Also until pre-nuputial agreements become the standard, with a "pre-nup" many or most of these problems can be avoided.

By: Sharon Marks Altshul

Sharon Marks Altshul — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:48:42 +0000

Good point!

By: Tamas Somogyi

Tamas Somogyi — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:00:15 +0000

While I agree with most of what is in this piece, I must take exception to the phrase "…women who were elected by the people…". Nothing of the sort; these woman MKs were elected by party hacks who put them on party lists with defined slots. It is quite possible, in fact, likely that by "direct" election by the people, there would be many more women in the Knesset.

By: Ruth Bergman

Ruth Bergman — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:38:59 +0000

Until the power to give a get is removed from individual husbands and put into the hands of the courts (as prosbul was) nothing will change. There is often too much anger and ego involved. Only an impartial court can solve divorce issues.

By: Elise Ronan

Elise Ronan — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:31:25 +0000

Until orthodoxy revamps itself into a modern version where women are equal human beings to men it will be seen as an anachronism. Orthodoxy likes to say how reform or conservative Judaism is leading to the demise of the Jewish people but in reality it is orthodoxy and its continued misogyny. Women who are raised on the fact that they are important in their own right are not going to allow themselves to be belittled by any religious authority and they will take action, most likely moving away from orthodox Judaism along with their children.

Luckily here in the US if a Jewish woman without a get wants to remarry she can be married by a reform rabbi who holds the civil divorce as the expression of the dissolution of the marriage or in a civil ceremony. If she remains "chained" in the US it is her own choice. I had a friend who was a an agunah for awhile and her response was "but its the religion." Sorry but it is not the religion. It is the idea of religion espoused by some very small minded and ignorant men.

By: Yocheved Golani

Yocheved Golani — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:42:28 +0000

ZERO TOLERANCE for men who are m'agen! The Jewish world owes it to the agonized women and their children (let alone the rest of the family). Get issues are not blackmail material for custody/visitation, alimony or any other issues – any rav who lets that happen deserves the deep pit in hell he dug for himself. Any aginut-causing "husband" who tramples lives this way should be banned from every bet kneset, Jewish home and institution. He behaves outside Jewish law and deserves to be treated that way: outside the Jewish world. His only recourse is to grant an unconditional get. Pending legal or other issues must be dealt with separately. Torah is not a bat to slug with. Embittering lives in an unforgiveable sin.

By: Sharon Marks Altshul

Sharon Marks Altshul — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:22:24 +0000

When these laws were started they were the most compassionate, a woman could not be divorced without her consent. Now there is less a community can do, there is less community, to pressure a husband to be moral and fair. Maybe a global community can replace the local town meeting? Just an idea, would be nice.

By: Zahava Englard

Zahava Englard — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:48:04 +0000

Sharon, sadly, until the powers that be…whomever they are, have the courage to renounce a religious practice that allows for women to be life-long prisoners, nothing will change. I find it "fascinating" that Judaism espouses compassion, yet sings a different tune when it comes to the entire Get issue.