Over the past couple of months, the issue of freeing “chained women” – that is, women whose husbands refuse to give them a get as Jewish law requires – has gained new momentum, thanks to a major campaign that began on Instagram. Yet the problem of get refusal remains one of the most pressing issues in the Orthodox world today.
What motivates some men to withhold the get, and why do certain batei din and communities openly support their efforts? Are there cases of reverse blackmail, where the wife refuses to accept the get while threatening to expose her husband as a get refuser? How can the Halachic prenup solve some of these problems, and does it have any serious limitations? Is it possible that the Orthodox world needs to find a replacement for classic “kiddushin” marriage altogether?
To discuss these and other relevant questions, Scott spoke with Keshet Starr, the Executive Director of the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA), the only nonprofit organization addressing the agunah (Jewish divorce refusal) crisis on a case-by-case basis worldwide.
To reach the ORA helpline, call 1-844-673-5463.
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Music: “Happy Rock” by bensound.com