Today is the Taanit Esther, a fast day to commemorate the threat of extermination faced by Jews as described in the Megillah. But did you know that it's also "International Agunah Day"? According to Jewish law, a divorce becomes final when a man hands his wife a get, or a writ of divorce. Sometimes men withhold the get to punish or extort their wives. While the occasional wife refuses to grant a get, Jewish law is stricter about women remarrying. A woman who wants to end her marriage, but whose husband can't or won't provide a get, is known as an agunah, meaning "anchored." The agunah issue has made news in the United States. Aharon Friedman is a congressional committee aide for … [Read more...]
Will Joint Custody for Children of Divorce Become the Norm in Israel?
December 27, 2010 by 29 Comments
When Israeli couples divorce, the mother receives custody of children under age 6 by default. The father can petition the court to get custody, but it's unusual for him to get it. After a campaign by fathers' groups, the Schnitt Commission was formed to investigate the issue. They are recommending that the default arrangment for young children be changed to joint custody. The main reasons the commission wishes to assign joint custody are as follows: The current rule is sexist—there's no reason to assume that mothers do better than fathers. Studies show that children do best when both parents are involved in their lives. Children need emotional stability. They manage fine when they … [Read more...]
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