Divorce, Israeli Style: Haredi Divorce Case Turns Into War Between Religious Lifestyles

When a couple with three children recently divorced in an Israeli state rabbinical court at the wife’s request, everything appeared to be amicable and going as well as any divorce could go. But the outward appearance of calm was only a ruse.

 

Haredi Divorce Case Turns Into War Between Religious Lifestyles
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

When a couple with three children recently divorced in an Israeli state rabbinical court at the wife’s request, everything appeared to be amicable and going as well as any divorce could go.

The ex-husband reportedly agreed to pay all educational costs for the three children. The wife agreed to allowing her ex-husband to have visitation with the children at minimum twice every week, and to have custody every other Shabbat. Custody for the Jewish holidays were divided equally between the parents. And the ex-wife willingly agreed that she would not disparage her ex-husband – or his new lifestyle. And the divorce agreement even allowed the children to visit their father more often, if they choose to do so.

But it appears that this outward appearance of calm was nothing more than a ruse.

Immediately after the divorce and custody agreement was approved by the Tel Aviv rabbinical court, the ex-wife reportedly forbid the children from visiting their father. In doing so she violated the divorce and custody agreement.

The woman reportedly took this step because she feared that her husband’s new lifestyle – the new lifestyle that had prompted her to seek a divorce in the first place – would negatively influence the children.

After his own attempts and those of the ex-couple’s attorneys to try to work out the situation failed, the ex-husband petitioned the rabbinical court and asked it to use its power to force the woman to comply with the divorce and custody agreement she willingly signed.

But the defiant haredi woman reportedly told the rabbinic judges that she will not budge, she will not keep the agreement, claiming that she fears that her ex-husband’s lifestyle will negatively impact the children.

The rabbinic judges are still debating what action, if any, they will take against the recalcitrant woman, including the possibility that they will levy a fine of tens of thousands of shekels.

What is the ex-husband’s new lifestyle that allegedly prompted the ex-wife to ask for a divorce and that now allegedly is causing her to fear for the future of her children if they are exposed to it?

Religious Zionism, also known as Zionist Orthodoxy or Centrist or Modern Orthodoxy.

Comments

[Sarek]

Gasp! He might as well be an atheist! He's going to Hell!

Oh wait, we don't have Hell.

[Garnel Ironheart]

> Oh wait, we don't have Hell.

Yes we do, it's called Mea Shearim.

At any rate I'm not sure why this article merits such importance. This kind of crap happens in secular divorces all the time with one party looking for any reason to renege on custody agreements. Let me guess, even though she's refusing to hold by her side of the deal she still expects him to make all his payments on schedule, right?
Nothing terribly Jewish about this. Happens everywhere.

[Milhouse]

What is the husband new lifestyle?

[PulpitRabbi]

I can confirm Garnel Ironheart's theory from first hand experience with other couples doing exactly the same thing without religion playing much of a role (those are secular couples I am referring to). It's sad, but divorcing spouses often use any means at their disposition, whether ethical or not, whether fair or not, in order to hurt the other (former) spouse.

[WoolSilkCotton, rock star and sports superstar]

Garnel Ironheart | October 30, 2012 at 09:56 AM
PulpitRabbi | October 30, 2012 at 03:25 PM

I agree with both of you.

[anchell]

the ex-husband must have taken up with another woman of whom she disapproves. ..