Under JEWISH LAW, Divorce is OK, Right?

Question

But under Catholcism it is not. Maybe all of the USA should become jewish? LOL!

Answer 1

Yes - in Judiasm divorce is recognized as a necessary thing when people can't work things out.

Both spouses must consent to the divorce, but here is where it gets complicated.

According to the Jewish bible, a woman can remarry only if the couple gets an official divorce. This makes for serious problems until today, because if the husband refuses to agree to a divorce, the woman cannot marry anyone else under religious law. If she remarries without a final divorce from the first husband, not only is she considered to be committing adultery with her new partner, but any children born of that relationship are considered "illegitimate" and may not marry other Jews (except for other "illegitimate"s like themselves, and then their children are not considered Jewish either).

It's different for a man, because from Biblical times, a man is allowed to have multiple wives. Around 1,000 years ago, there was a decree that forbade a Jewish man from marrying more than one woman. Still, because this decree is rabbinic and not biblical, a man can marry another woman without getting a final divorce from the first wife, and it is not considered adultery and any children born of that relationship will be Jewish (if the mother is Jewish).

So it's really tough on woman whose husbands don't agree to a divorce, and they are called "Agunot" ("chained" ). Jewish men who "chain" their wives are shunned in their communities, they aren't allowed to enter the synagogue, and people aren't allowed to do business with them. Still, human emotions being so strong, there are stubborn men who disappear by moving across the country or abroad, start a new life and leave their former wife "chained" and unable to remarry. Suffice it to say, those men will definitely need to answer for their actions when they depart this world for the next one.

To get back to the original question, divorce is completely allowed in Judiasm, as long as both parties agree.

Answer 2

Yes, in Jewish law, divorce is allowed. ("Jewish law" isn't any official government law--it only has meaning to Jews who believe in it.) There are specific provisions for how to go about divorcing someone if you don't love them anymore.

Of course, as Americans, we are only legally bound by secular law (which is nevertheless influenced by religious traditions), but some of us have religious traditions which are also important to us. If the Catholic position on divorce bugs you, maybe you don't want to be Catholic. Or maybe you do want to be Catholic and find a way to live with it. Or be a `lapsed Catholic'.

In response to Sunhouse's insights below, I wanted to add that the issue of agunot is limited to Orthodox Judaism, because Conservative and Reform Judaism have done away with it by either allowing women to initiate divorce proceedings or by requiring prenuptial agreements that essentially prevent the man from refusing a divorce. Nevertheless, it remains a problem for Orthodox Jews.

Answer 3

There is no "jewish" law, nor is their a "catholic" law. Both are religions, and Judaism is also an ethnic culture. Catholic religious dogma forbids divorce, under supposed penalty of being cast out of the church (whatever that means). If you are Jewish, no only can you get divorced, but ethnically and culturally, you are still Jewish. To my knowlege, nowhere in the U.S. is divorce "illegal".

Answer 4

i'm undecided what the punishment under Jewish regulation is that if a Jewish couple who're betrothed have sexual kinfolk. however the element is entirely academic for right here reasons. a million. Jewish courts now no longer situation actual punishments 2. The betrothal (engagement) and marriage at the instant are executed at merely approximately the comparable time throughout the time of the marriage.

Answer 5

Well divorce anywhere is certainly not looked up upon, but i don't recall anything in Jewish law absolutely prohibiting divorce.

Answer 6

You mean under Jewish law Divorce is "permitted" its definitely not ok and it is strongly frowned upon.

Answer 7

The "jewish law" is summend up in this one statment by Christ: That you love one an other.

Answer 8

We should be so lucky.