tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post7778929228263298076..comments2024-03-05T21:22:43.426-05:00Comments on parshablog: Article on the Aguna Problem in the Wall Street Journaljoshwaxmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03516171362038454070noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-40492179119067096592007-09-18T13:54:00.000-04:002007-09-18T13:54:00.000-04:00There IS a practical solution to the Agunah proble...There IS a practical solution to the Agunah problem: ensure that all couples sign the pre-nuptial agreement put out by the the Orthodox Caucus and Beth Din of America. The agreement is available at http://www.ocweb.org/index.php/pre_nuptial/article/updated_prenuptial_agreement_with_instructions/. <BR/>The RCA recently called on its rabbis to insist on the pre-nup being signed as a condition of officiating at a wedding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-74970179259652684582007-09-16T12:23:00.000-04:002007-09-16T12:23:00.000-04:00that may well be, but then the article should ment...that may well be, but then the article should mention the heter meah rabbanim and the problems that arise.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps there was not enough space allocated to allow her to do that.<BR/><BR/>I would imagine, also, that the purpose would not be to put pressure by presenting information which is true but misleading. A newspaper's first task is to inform instead of to mislead. A few extra words here and there could have served this function.joshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-16728996328212551502007-09-15T22:43:00.000-04:002007-09-15T22:43:00.000-04:00Unfortunately there are many Rabbis out there that...Unfortunately there are many Rabbis out there that will remarry men who have not given their wives a get- and so practically the problem is very real. Also there are many abuses of heter Meah Rabanim, where a friend of such a husband will have 100 yeshiva bochrim sign a paper they have barely read- certainly without looking into the case or meeting the so called "crazy' wife. <BR/><BR/>Overall the practical problems are more pressing and more embarrassing for the Jewish establishment than the halachot themselves. <BR/><BR/>An article like this will never capture all the complexities because the topic requires books and books of material.<BR/><BR/>Yes it is true that a lay person in the US reading this article will not understand the relationship between Mishna and the Rambam (especially because we Jews don't agree as to what weight to give to different Rishonim in a given psak). However the purpose of the article may be to put pressure on Jewish organizations and Rabbis not to teach Washington post readers the complexities of how to decide psak.<BR/><BR/>What the article does capture is that there are tools within halacha and within Jewish tradition that are not being used by the current batei din. If it makes you uncomfortable that we Jews come out sounding bad- I think it should.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-58493000466827164422007-09-11T18:31:00.000-04:002007-09-11T18:31:00.000-04:00Thank you for this!! I am adding it to my Abuse Bl...Thank you for this!! I am adding it to my <A HREF="http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Abuse Blog </A> and giving you credit!<BR/><BR/>I started to write a little about my own <A HREF="http://barbarany_9.blogspot.com/2007/08/even-paula-zahn-seems-paula-zahn-and-i.html" REL="nofollow"> 'agunah' </A> problem. I am glad this is getting more press. Its misogyny and blindness to the plight of women like us - at its worstAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5589564.post-60681536391076531672007-09-11T13:01:00.000-04:002007-09-11T13:01:00.000-04:00"While Ms. Rosenfeld is held hostage, Mr. HaCohen ..."While Ms. Rosenfeld is held hostage, Mr. HaCohen can go about his life as usual. He can even remarry another woman without giving Ms. Rosenfeld the get, and his children would not be deemed mamzerim."<BR/><BR/>It's entirely true and not at all misleading. He cannot be married by most Rabbis, barring the concubine crowd, but if he does marry, he really has very little to worry about and his marriage will be considered religiously valid if it's done correctly since bigamy does not disqualify a marriage at any level.<BR/><BR/>By contrast her remarrying transgresses an issur de'oraita punishable by death. All he has barring is a Cherem, that many claim doesn't apply today and if he is Sefardi, he can claim doesn't apply to him. <BR/><BR/>She remains trapped. He does not. The article if anything understates the matter.Daniel Greenfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13575285186581875356noreply@blogger.com