Israeli divorce law traps women in hopeless marriages

[JCDenton0451]

Why is this important you ask?

It's just another piece of evidence illustrating that Israel is profoundly Illiberal State, completely alien to the modern Western Civilisation. Israelis appear closer to Iran than United States in the way they treat their women.

Israeli divorce law traps women in hopeless marriages (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-israel-divorce-problems-20130726,0,4730957.story)


JERUSALEM — After four years of marriage, Tamar Tessler filed for divorce, taking her infant daughter and embarking on what she hoped would be a new chapter of her life. Today that daughter is 36 years old — and Tessler is still awaiting the divorce.


Her husband long ago moved to America, said the 61-year-old retired nurse. But under Israeli law, she remains trapped in a defunct marriage that her husband won't allow to end. She can't legally remarry, was obligated as his spouse to repay some of his debts, and lost out on tax breaks for single mothers even though she raised their daughter alone.


Tessler is one of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Israeli women caught in legal and social limbo because of a law that leaves matters of divorce for all Jewish citizens in the hands of a government-funded religious court.


The court, consisting of a panel of rabbis, bases its decisions on the customs of Orthodox Judaism. The rulings apply to all Jewish Israelis, whether they are Orthodox, Conservative or Reform, observant or secular. And their authority even extends to those who married abroad in civil ceremonies that were registered in Israel. Divorce for non-Jews is handled by their own religious institutions.


Rabbis have upheld the need for consent even in cases where a man has abused his wife, disappeared, lied about his sexuality or molested their children.


Exploiting what amounts to veto power over a divorce, some men demand financial payoffs from the court. Others pressure wives to pay them, give up their homes, forgo child support or waive custody rights.


Women's rights advocates are pushing Israel's coalition government, the first in decades that does not include ultra-Orthodox parties, to pass reforms.
A report in April by the Israeli religious rights group Hiddush ranked Israel alongside Iran and Saudi Arabia in terms of marriage freedom. [LOL!]


"When it comes to matters of divorce, Israel is a theocracy," said Batya Kahana-Dror, executive director of Mavoi Satum, a legal group devoted to helping women obtain divorces.



Oh, and BTW, in Israel Jews and non-Jews can't legally marry each other.

[ObiRandKenobi]

is the United States more free today than it was 50 years ago when it was harder to get a divorce?

don't see a direct correlation between how hard it is to get a divorce with overall liberty.

[Keith and stuff]

The US marriage systems are very lacking in marriage freedom. Things might not be as bas as Israel but needs many reforms before the the US has decent marriage system. I'm sorry about what some people in Israel go through but since there are such major problems with the US systems, I'm not going to throw stones.

[amy31416]

is the United States more free today than it was 50 years ago when it was harder to get a divorce?

don't see a direct correlation between how hard it is to get a divorce with overall liberty.

You would if you were a woman (or a man) trapped in an abusive marriage.

[Carlybee]

Its very anti liberty to me not to mention sexist. I'm waiting for the ultra religious to come in here and say they support it. This is why government doesnt need to be in the marriage business and another reason I could give a flying fig about Israel.

[69360]

I don't care what they do in Israel as long as they don't do it with our money.

[oyarde]

No suprise to me , if I was young and lived in Saud , Iran , Israel getting married would not be in my list .Getting a decent job and going somewhere else would be.

[AFPVet]

You should never need a 'license' to be married. Marriage should be between two people who love each other... you shouldn't be given in marriage to someone who you don't love like a freaking piece of meat.

I do understand that different cultures have varying worldviews; however, from an American perspective, the Middle Eastern culture is pretty messed up in many regards.

[PaulConventionWV]

This is yet another distraction from the real issue when it comes to marriage. We're talking about marriage to the state, not to each other. If you don't get a marriage license in the first place, then you wouldn't have to go through the long and arduous process of getting a divorce. "Marriage freedom" has been mistaken by almost everyone (including most people here) as the degree to which government provides consenting couples with permission to enter into a contract with the state, not with each other. Really, our marriage freedom is quite good if we forego the whole process of getting a marriage license in the first place. Anyone can choose to marry without the state, and yet they still go the route that gives them less freedom.

[erowe1]

The OP doesn't say much about the relevant details. Did she cheat on her husband, for instance, thinking there wouldn't be any consequences?

[angelatc]

I'm not big on giving people the right to break contracts. But there would seem to be some performance issues if her husband has relocated.

[aGameOfThrones]

This reminded me of the sopranos' episode "denial, anger, acceptance"

http://thedailykirk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/the_romans1.gif

[Carlybee]

These are not feudal times. No one should have to stay in a marriage just because a government tells them to. Especially if the person has sound reason for wanting to get out of it. Maybe they shouldnt have gotten married in the first place but thats between them.

[Dr.3D]

Simple solution, don't move over there if you don't like the way they do things.

Edit:
And did anybody mention that they eat babies over there?

/s

[thoughtomator]

you go to the government and say your private relationship deserves public privileges, you get what you deserve

When you get married you take a lifetime oath. That should prompt sufficient analysis of the situation to determine if you really want to move forward with that, for better or for worse.

The bottom line problem is that people don't take that oath seriously. They think marriage is a convenience to be entered into or broken at their desires. That's not what marriage is.

[Carlybee]

you go to the government and say your private relationship deserves public privileges, you get what you deserve

When you get married you take a lifetime oath. That should prompt sufficient analysis of the situation to determine if you really want to move forward with that, for better or for worse.

The bottom line problem is that people don't take that oath seriously. They think marriage is a convenience to be entered into or broken at their desires. That's not what marriage is.


Most people when they get married do so because they are in love...sometimes people change and they fall out of love with them. Marriage shouldn't be prison either. A lot of people have written their own vows to reflect that as well. It is no longer until death we part in all cases.

[gwax23]

Jcdenton is a troll. If hes not defending socialism hes posting every trivial story about Israel he can find.

Are you going to say Israel persecutes Jews now?

We dont have the full details of this case, but even if we did it wouldnt matter. Every country has problems, we have bureaucratic problems here ourselves. I dont see you posting any stories about issues concerning government bureaucracy for places like Greece or Spain. Only Israel.

[Dr.3D]

Jcdenton is a troll. If hes not defending socialism hes posting every trivial story about Israel he can find.

Are you going to say Israel persecutes Jews now?

We dont have the full details of this case, but even if we did it wouldnt matter. Every country has problems, we have bureaucratic problems here ourselves. I dont see you posting any stories about issues concerning government bureaucracy for places like Greece or Spain. Only Israel.

But they don't eat babies in those other countries.

/s

[gwax23]

But they don't eat babies in those other countries.

/s

Thats true. But the jews only eat babies for their biannual christian blood sacrifices. Big difference.

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Why do people get married if they're not really ready to? Why do they get pregnant when they do not want a child?

If no-fault divorce and abortion are any guide, people want as little responsibility for their own actions as possible.

[JK/SEA]

I don't care what they do in Israel as long as they don't do it with our money.

you mean like abortions?

[Carlybee]

Why do people get married if they're not really ready to? Why do they get pregnant when they do not want a child?

If no-fault divorce and abortion are any guide, people want as little responsibility for their own actions as possible.

Because most people are guided by needs like financial security and sex and emotions like the rush of first love. Most are not prepared for the loss of expectation much less real serious issues. Most people dont expect their spouses to cheat on them or abuse them or become a drunk or a bum or any other number of things that usually cause a divorce. Most people probably dont go with their gut instinct either.

[PaulConventionWV]

Simple solution, don't move over there if you don't like the way they do things.

Edit:
And did anybody mention that they eat babies over there?

/s

They really do that in China... eat babies. Human ones.

[PaulConventionWV]

Most people when they get married do so because they are in love...sometimes people change and they fall out of love with them. Marriage shouldn't be prison either. A lot of people have written their own vows to reflect that as well. It is no longer until death we part in all cases.

If they don't want to be forced to stay in that contract, then they shouldn't have gotten a marriage license from the state, which determines all of the qualifications and conditions under which the couple can get married... to the state. If people just stopped getting married to the state, then this would be a non-issue.

[MelissaWV]

In addition to asking the state for a license to marry, there were also "single mother benefits" involved. As others have said, the problem is the State in this entire arrangement. They are the deadbeat parent.

This might be a story about Israel but it could very easily be a story about the US.

[enhanced_deficit]

Oh, and BTW, in Israel Jews and non-Jews can't legally marry each other.

You sure about this?


They do have some intresting dating/mating laws. But their country, their laws ..once $30 Billion US welfare aid is ended.

Arab guilty of rape after consensual sex with Jew ... - The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/21/arab-guilty-rape-consensual-sex-jew)

www.guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk)

Jul 20, 2010 - Arab guilty of rape after consensual sex with Jew ... A Palestinian man has been convicted of rape after having consensual sex with a woman who ... According to the complaint filed by the woman with the Jerusalem district ...

Handing down the verdict, Tzvi Segal, one of three judges on the case, acknowledged that sex had been consensual but said that although not "a classical rape by force," the woman would not have consented if she had not believed Kashur was Jewish.
The sex therefore was obtained under false pretences, the judges said. "If she hadn't thought the accused was a Jewish bachelor interested in a serious romantic relationship, she would not have cooperated," they added.

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

double post

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

What else do you expect from a people based on a religion that cuts the foreskin of newborns off and sucks the blood from the wound?


The ancient method of performing metzitzah—metzitzah b'peh, or oral suction[21][22]—has become controversial. The process has the mohel suck blood from the circumcision wound on the baby's penis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_milah

[KrokHead]

Sure beats 'the stoning' you'll get in a lot of countries around there.

[tod evans]

Those who are concerned about anyone in a foreign country should be encouraged to send them money, food, etc.

Heck hop a plane and go help them!

Just keep the US government out of it!

Everything they touch they screw-up and it costs taxpayers much more than if they sent a check themselves.

[JCDenton0451]

The US marriage systems are very lacking in marriage freedom. Things might not be as bas as Israel but needs many reforms before the the US has decent marriage system. I'm sorry about what some people in Israel go through but since there are such major problems with the US systems, I'm not going to throw stones.

But I would agree with this line of reasoning if we were talking about Saudi Arabia, but you're missing the point.

Israel is not just another foreign country. Israel is a our "greatest ally", "the only democracy in the Middle East", and the "shining beacon of freedom in world". lol

One common explanation or justification for our unusually close relationship with Israel is this notion that Israel and America share "common values". But this is patently untrue, and the article shows that Israel has more in common with Iran when it comes to marriage. And immigration. And many other issues. It is not free and its "democracy" excludes the non-Jews.

...just putting this information out there for the people who are unaware.