Contemporary Issues in Jewish Divorce

Rarely do we see as clearly the tension between traditional Jewish practices and secular values as in the issue of annulment.

Confronting the issue of agunot, or "chained" wives.

In addition to the traditional get (bill of divorce) granted by the husband, Reconstructionism offers a woman-initiated get and a mutual get.

The liberal movements who have held that a civil divorce constitutes a get, or Jewish divorce, are finding that on an emotional, religious level, it's just not enough.

An activist for agunot traces her development from demonstrator to promoter of prenuptial agreements that help protect women in the event of a divorce.

Orthodox and Conservative rabbis have worked to create solutions within the Jewish framework, including prenuptial agreements and retroactive annulment.

When the synagogue is welcoming, the newly divorced begin to overcome their inhibitions about reconnecting to the Jewish community.

Divorce is meant to take care of the wife. But occasionally, a husband will manipulate the system.