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Riskin, Shlomo
"Hafka’at Kiddushin: Towards Solving the Aguna Problem in our Time," Riskin, Shlomo. Tradition, 36:4, 2002, 1-36.
Synopsis: R. Shlomo Riskin presents a halakhic case for religious Jewish courts of law to be permitted to annul marriages under extreme circumstances of refusal of a husband to grant a divorce. He proposes this annulment, called hafka’at kiddushin, as a solution to the problem of recalcitrant husbands. A debate between Rabbis Riskin and Jeremy Wieder can be followed in additional articles referenced on this page.
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ADDITIONAL READING
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Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah
"The Plight of the 'Agunah and Conditional Marriage," Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah. The Agunah Research Unit, University of Manchester (UK), November 2006.
Synopsis: This paper examines the debate over conditional marriage as a possible solution to the problem of 'iggun, with particular reference to the opposition to the French and Turkish proposals of the early 20th century, as voiced in the responsa collected in 'Eyn Tenai Be-Nissu'in (1930) and the response to those arguments by R. Eliezer Berkovits in his Tenai Be-Nissu'in Uv-Get (1966). This paper provides a detailed summary and review of the arguments in those publications (which are not universally accessible), and supports the view that the particular proposals for conditional marriage advanced by R. Berkovits are significantly different from those rejected in 'Eyn Tenai Be-Nissu'in and largely fall outside the terms of that critique.
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Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah
"Rabbi Morgenstern's Agunah Solution," Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah. The Agunah Research Unit, University of Manchester (UK), December 2006.
Synopsis: A critique of the claims made by Rabbi Mosheh Morgenstern in Vol.I of his privately published work HATOROT AGUNOT, with particular reference to the sources cited for these claims. While this critique shows that many of these claims are not supported by the sources cited for them, Rabbi Abel also identifies some sources cited by Rabbi Morgenstern which may usefully be deployed in arguments for a halakhic solution.
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Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah
"A critique of Za'aqat Dalot," Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah. The Agunah Research Unit, University of Manchester (UK), November 2006.
Synopsis: A critique of some of the detailed arguments in Za'aqat Dalot. Halakhic Solutions for the Agunot of Our Time, by Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg and Rabbi Diana Villa of The Centre for Women in Jewish Law, The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, published in Jerusalem, 2006.
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Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah
"Halakhah - Majority, Seniority, Finality and Consensus," Abel, Rabbi Dr. Yehudah. The Agunah Research Unit, University of Manchester (UK), November 2006.
Synopsis: This paper considers many of the arguments from the authority structure of the halakhah which are used to resist proposals for halakhic change, especially arguments relating to the need for stringency (often consensus) in gittin and qiddushin.
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Aranoff, Susan
"Freeing Agunot: The Rabbi Emanuel Rackman Beit Din," Aranoff, Susan. JOFA Journal, V, 4, 2005, 15, 19-20.
Synopsis: Dr. Susan Aranoff explains the way in which the Rackman Beit Din uses kiddushei ta’ut (a marriage based on a mistake) to free agunot without a get. She also refutes the three main objections that others have to the use of this method and comes to the conclusion that the Rackman Beit Din is very careful to analyze each case carefully and annuls a marriage only when it is halakhically acceptable.
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Bleich, J. David
"The Device of the Sages of Spain as a Solution to the Problem of the Modern Day Agunah," Bleich, J. David. Tradition, 22:3, 1986, 77-87.
Synopsis: This article discusses the problems involved in enforcing prenuptial agreements from both a legal and Jewish perspective as well as offering an alternative solution from medieval sages which avoids these problems.
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Bluth, Rachel
"I Am My Sister’s Keeper," Bluth, Rachel. JOFA Journal, VI, 3, 2007, 12.
Synopsis: This article describes the way in which agunot come together to support and help each other through all stages in their lives. Bluth focuses on P.A.V.E.S. (Perspectives and Vital Experience Sharing), an agunah support group formed provide the members with emotional support and practical guidance, helping them move forward and lead happy productive lives in the community.
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Broyde, Michael
"Tears of the Oppressed by Aviad Hacohen," Broyde, Michael. The Edah Journal, 4:2, November 2004.
Synopsis: Michael Broyde reviews Tears of the Oppressed by Aviad Hacohen, gives his analysus of kiddushei ta'ut and explores other solutions to the agunah problem.
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Broyde, Michael
"Error in the Creation of Jewish Marriages: Under what Circumstances Can Error in the Creation of a Marriage Void the Marriage without Requiring a Get according to Halacha," Broyde, Michael. Marriage, Divorce and the Abandoned Wife in Jewish Law: A Conceptual Understanding of the Agunah Problems in America, 2001.
Synopsis: This article is an appendix to a book entitled Marriage, Divorce and the Abandoned Wife in Jewish Law: A Conceptual Understanding of the Agunah Problems in America by the same author. The book is referenced on this page.
The goal of the appendix is to demonstrate the nature of the halakhic response to questions of kidushai ta'ut -- errors in the creation of a marriage based on information not being revealed. Essentially, this section notes that while the grounds upon which women could argue that kidushai ta'ut occurred were extremely narrow in talmudic times, broader in the era of the rishonim, and have grown yet further in America in the last 50 years, this halakhic truth was predicated on a social reality regarding marriage.
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Cohen, Alfred
"Rabbinic Coercion: Responsibilities and Limitations," Cohen, Alfred. JHCS, 43, 2002, 69-111.
Synopsis: This article focuses on recent attempts to solve the aguna problem, including Get laws.
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Dick, Judah
"Is an Agreement to Deliver or Accept a Get in the Event of a Civil Divorce Halakhically Feasible?," Dick, Judah. Tradition, 21:2, 1983, 91-106.
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Dratch, Rabbi Mark
"Get Abuse," Dratch, Rabbi Mark. JOFA Journal, V, 4, 2005, 2-3.
Synopsis: Rabbi Dratch describes the way in which a get is often used by a husband to control his wife. He believes that withholding a get is a manipulation of the halakha and is equivalent to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
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Gartner, Tzvi
"Problems of A Forced Get," Gartner, Tzvi. JHCS, 9, 1985, 118-142.
Synopsis: This article explores the need for a husband to grant a get of his own volition and the carious problems associated with a forced get.
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Haut, Rivka
"A Factor in Preventing Cases of Agunah," Haut, Rivka. JOFA Journal, 1:3, 1999.
Synopsis: Haut discusses the case for the use of a prenuptial agreement to help prevent the creation of agunot due to refusal to grant or accept a get.
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Haut, Rivka
"Judging the Judges," Haut, Rivka. JOFA Journal, V, 4, 2005, 10-12.
Synopsis: Rivka Haut recommends that couples going through a divorce negotiate custody, visitation, and division of assets in a civil court instead of in a beit din. She also discusses the problems that exist within many batei din and makes suggestions for how the Orthodox community can affect change in this corrupt system.
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Jachter, Howard
"The Use of a Videoteleconference For a Get Procedure," Jachter, Howard. JHCS, 28, 1994, 5:16.
Synopsis: This article examines the role videoconferencing can play in a get procedure.
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Jackson, B.S.
"Preliminary Report of the Agunah Research Unit," Jackson, B.S.. The Agunah Research Unit, University of Manchester (UK), November 2006.
Synopsis: This paper was written in anticipation of the Global Rabbinic Conference convened to meet in Jerusalem in November 2006, but cancelled at the last moment. It updates "Agunah and the Problem of Authority" (above) by reference to the work of the Agunah Research Unit from January 2004, and especially the papers (listed here) of Rabbi Dr. Yehudah Abel.
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Jackson, B.S.
"Agunah and the Problem of Authority: Directions for Future Research," Jackson, B.S.. Melilah, 1, 2004, 1-78.
Synopsis: This was the initial agenda paper from which the work of the Agunah Research Unit, University of Manchester, commenced. After an Introduction stating the premises of the research, it considers the history of each of the main proposed solutions: conditional marriage, coercion and annulment. It summarises the problems of authority which such solutions encounter, especially the demand for consensus, and in its tentative conclusion outlines a possible solution based on the interaction of different remedies and the explicit statement of the authority for such interaction.
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JOFA
"What You Can Do to Help Agunuot," JOFA. JOFA Journal, 2005.
Synopsis: This article offers suggestions for things everyone can do to help agunot.
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Klein, Marilyn Mattie
"Tefilah L'agunah," Klein, Marilyn Mattie. Amit, LXX:4, 1998, 26-28.
Synopsis: This article provides a prayer for the agunah as well as a discussion of the purpose of the prayer and its origins.
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Malinowitz, Chaim
"Gittin Sheloh K'dat Moshe V'yisrael," Malinowitz, Chaim. JHCS, 36, 1997.
Synopsis: The purpose of this article is to discuss the halakhic status of some of the current solutions being suggested to free agunot.
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Malinowitz, Chaim
"The 1992 New York State Get Law," Malinowitz, Chaim. Tradition, 29:4, 1995, 5-13.
Synopsis: Chaim Malinowitz responds to Rabbi Michael Broyde’s article on the 1992 New York State Law, pointing out several perceived inaccuracies to which Rabbi Broyde replies.
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Malinowitz, Chaim
"The New York State Get Bill and its Halachic Ramifications," Malinowitz, Chaim. JHCS, 27, 1994.
Synopsis: Malinowitz enumerates the problems associated with the New York State Get Bill and contends that in addition to not being an effective solution to the agunah problem, it actually creates more problems for the validity of gittin, thereby threatening the sacntity of the Jewish family.
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Malinowitz, Chaim & Broyde, Michael J
"The 1992 New York Get Law: An Exchange," Malinowitz, Chaim & Broyde, Michael J. Tradition, 31:3, 1997, 23-41.
Synopsis: In this article, Malinowitz presents an itemized attack of Rabbi Michael Broyde's article regarding Gets. It also contains a point by point response by Broyde to each of Malinowitz's claims.
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Mintz, Rabbi Adam
"A Courageous Proposal: The First Heter Agunah in America," Mintz, Rabbi Adam. JOFA Journal, VI, 4, 2007, 14-15.
Synopsis: In 1925, Rabbi Henkin offered a proposal to solve the agunah problem in America. This article outlines both his proposal and that of Rabbi Louis Epstein which followed shortly after Rabbi Henkin’s, showing how two couragous men used rabbinic creativity to try and solve this problem that has long plagued the Jewish community.
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Prager, Jonas
"The World Trade Center Tragedy and the Aguna Issue," Prager, Jonas. JHCS, 44, 2002.
Synopsis: Rabbi Prager discusses the agunah issues that have arisen as a result of the World Trade Center tragedy.
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Reiss, Jonah
"Toward Standardizing Beit Din Procedures," Reiss, Jonah. JOFA Journal, 2002.
Synopsis: Reiss stresses the importance of resolutions adopted by the Rabbinical Council of America which establish certain default principles as to the appropriate time boundaries for a get to be given, or for a spouse to otherwise submit to a final determination of the beit din.
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Riskin, Rabbi Shlomo
"The Tragedy of Agunah – A Proposed Solution," Riskin, Rabbi Shlomo. JOFA Journal, V, 4, 2005, 13-14.
Synopsis: Rabbi Riskin discusses a halakhic solution based on five different Talmudic passages in which a religious court retroactively annuls a marriage without a valid get. He shows that this solution has been used in extreme cases throughout history.
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Riskin, Shlomo
"Response (to Jeremy Wieder)," Riskin, Shlomo. Tradition, 36:4, 2002, 44-53.
Synopsis: R. Riskin responds to R. Wieder’s rebuttal (referenced on this page) of R. Riskin’s original article (above).
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Schwartz, Gedalia Dov
"Heter Meah Rabbonim," Schwartz, Gedalia Dov. JHCS, 11, 1986, 33-49.
Synopsis: Rabbi Schwartz writes about a possible heter for agunah while discussing the history and evolution of the halakha.
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Schwartz, Gedalia Dov
"The 1992 New York State Get Law," Schwartz, Gedalia Dov. JHCS, 27, 1994, 26-34.
Synopsis: In this article, Rabbi Schwartz reviews the 1992 New York State Get law from the perspective of Jewish law.
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Shenhav, Sharon
"Human Rights, Jewish Women and Jewish Law," Shenhav, Sharon. Justice, 21, 1999, 28-31.
Synopsis: This article explains why Jewish women are victims of human rights violations in matters of religious marriage and divorce.
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Shenhav, Sharon, Susan Aranoff, Norma Baumel Joseph, and Susan Weiss
"Agunot and the Powers That Be.," Shenhav, Sharon, Susan Aranoff, Norma Baumel Joseph, and Susan Weiss. Choosing Limits, Limiting Choices Conference Transcript., March 2005.
Synopsis: Three top scholars and activists examine Jewish womens efforts to resolve the plight of agunot and the struggle of Orthodox feminists to reconcile this issue with their adherence to halakhic lifestyles.
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Weiss, Susan
"A View from the Trenches," Weiss, Susan. JOFA Journal, V, 4, 2005, 6-7.
Synopsis: Susan Weiss gives an insider’s view of the problems with divorce proceedings in the Israeli rabbinical courts.
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Westreich, Avishalom
"Compelling a Divorce? Early Talmudic Roots of Coercion in a Case of Moredet," Westreich, Avishalom. Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester, August 2007.
Synopsis: Rabbenu Tam opposed coercion in divorce, arguing that coercion has no basis in Talmudic sources. In this scholarly and fascinating article, the author argues that the gaonic view, which allows for coercion, is well-grounded in tannaitic and amoraic sources, as well as later anonymous Talmudic discussions. He claims that interpreting these sources to justify coercion is even the preferable interpretation.
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Westreich, Avishalom
"'Umdena: Between Mistaken Transaction (Kidushey Ta'ut) and Terminative Condition," Westreich, Avishalom. Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester, November 2007.
Synopsis: The author discusses three concepts and their possible applicability for terminating a marriage: (a) "terminative conditions", i.e. a case where an event that occurs during married life makes the marriage retrospectively void, based on an explicit stipulation of the spouses at the time of marriage; (b) "mistaken transaction", i.e. a fact that was in existence at the time of marriage, but one spouse was unaware of it, and if he or she had been aware of it he or she would not have married. In this case, the awareness of that fact at a later time reveals the actual status of the marriage: the marriage is based on a mistake, and therefore has never been valid; (c) "'umdena". This case lies between the previous ones: it is based on a fact that we assume could lead one of the spouses to cancel the marriage. But this fact was not in existence at the time of the marriage so no "mistake" actually occurred at that time.
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Wieder, Jeremy
"Hafka’at Kiddushin: A Rebuttal," Wieder, Jeremy. Tradition, 36:4, 2002, 37-43.
Synopsis: The author presents arguments to support his claim that Rabbi Riskin (in his article referenced on this page “Hafka’at Kiddushin: Towards Solving the Aguna Problem in our Time”) does not justify his solution. Aside from halakhic arguments, R. Wieder presents practical arguments, maintaining that unless all segments of the Jewish community accept this solution, it is not viable. He also argues that such a solution as R. Riskin proposes will undermine the integrity of kiddushin.
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Wieder, Jeremy
"Hafka’at Kiddushin: Rejoinder," Wieder, Jeremy. Tradition, 37:1, 2003, 61-78.
Synopsis: This is the fourth and final article in a series of articles (referenced on this page) in which Rabbis Riskin and Wieder debate the applicability of hafka’at kiddushin. R. Riskin proposes using hafka’at kiddushin as a solution to the problem of recalcitrant husbands who refuse to give their wives a divorce. R. Wieder opposes this. Each presents halakhic arguments to defend his position.
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"Continued Discussion of Agunah, Kiddushei Ta'ut and Tears of the Oppressed various participants," EDAH Journal, 5:1, July 2005.
Synopsis: This journal contains a collection of responses to Rabbi Michael Broyde’s review of the book Tears of the Oppressed by Aviad Hacohen and a response from Rabbi Broyde to those letters.
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"JewishPrenup.org".
Synopsis: JewishPrenup.org is a website that promotes signing prenups, in particular the RCA prenup for those planning on living in the United States and the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel prenup for those planning on living in Israel. Thre are other versions that are offered by various organizations and the reader is advised to carefully examine the available prenup options before choosing the most appropriate one and not rely solely on any one opinion.
www.jewishprenup.org
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"University of Manchester Centre for Jewish Studies Agunah Research Unit".
Synopsis: The Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester established in 2004 an Agunah Research Unit to examine the halakhic problems involved in refusal of a husband to give a get. The research Unit is under the direction of Professor Bernard Jackson, a specialist in Jewish law, and Co-Director of the Centre.
The purpose of the Unit is to explore ways, within the Orthodox Halakhah, to solve the problem of the mesurevet get (where a husband refuses to give a get to his wife, despite being ordered by a Bet Din to do so).
www.mucjs.org/publications.htm
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Aranoff, Dr. Susan, Dr. Giti Bendheim, Rachell Maidenbaum Gober, and Anat Zuria
"Mekudeshet: Betrothed or Chained? A Conversation about the Film," Aranoff, Dr. Susan, Dr. Giti Bendheim, Rachell Maidenbaum Gober, and Anat Zuria. JOFA 6th International Conference.
Synopsis: The movie Mekudeshet is a sobering look at the state of affairs of agunot in Israel. This panel, made up of a US agunah activist, a former agunah, and the movie's director, will discuss differences between the US and Israeli systems, some personal experiences, and suggested solutions.
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Aranoff, Dr. Susan, Rachell Maidenbaum Gober, Anat Zuria, and Dr. Giti Bendheim
"Mekudeshet: Betrothed or Chained? A Conversation About the Film," Aranoff, Dr. Susan, Rachell Maidenbaum Gober, Anat Zuria, and Dr. Giti Bendheim. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: The movie Mekudeshet is a sobering look at the state of affairs of agunot in Israel. This panel, made up of a US agunah activist, a former agunah, and the movie’s director, discusses the differences between the US and Israeli systems, some personal experiences, and suggested solutions.
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Aranoff, Dr. Susan, Ted Rosenbaum and Rivka Weiser
"V'natan lah Sefer Kritut - And You Shall Write Her A Bill of Divorce: Community Responsibility for the Prevention of Iggun.," Aranoff, Dr. Susan, Ted Rosenbaum and Rivka Weiser. JOFA / MERCAZ: Beth Tfiloh Baltimore Regional Conference. 2004.
Synopsis: Years after the epidemic of iggun became a recognized phenomenon, we are still struggling to find a solution to this problem. This session will include activist advice on what the community can do to help free women whose husbands deny them their get and will focus on ways, including the use of halakhic pre-nuptial agreements, to prevent any more Jewish women from falling victim to this terrible fate.
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Aranoff, Susan
"You Shall Call Me Thy Man and No Longer Call Me Thy Master. (Hosea 2:18)," Aranoff, Susan. JOFA 5th International Conference. 2004.
Synopsis: This session analyzes four Halakhic solutions for dealing with the agunah problem: kiddushei ta'ut, annulment, conditional marriage and procedural invalidation of the marriage ceremony. Aranoff discusses the issues involved and and what grass roots Orthodox men and women can do to promote the acceptance of these solutions.
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Aranoff, Susan and Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari
"Any Marriage Better than None? A Halakhic Analysis of Tav L'Meitav," Aranoff, Susan and Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
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Aranoff, Susan and Honey Rackman, Judith Talesnick
"Must Agunut Be a Permanent By-Product of Orthodox Marriage?," Aranoff, Susan and Honey Rackman, Judith Talesnick. JOFA One Day Conference, New York. 2001.
Synopsis: What are the philosophical implications of the inequality of the kidushin process? How does this inform the ways that we support and advocate for agunot?
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Breitowitz, Yitzchak
"Halachic and Legal Aspects of the Agunah Crisis," Breitowitz, Yitzchak. JOFA Washington DC Conference. 2002.
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Broyde, Michael
"Unsolvable Agunah Problems, Interactable Jewish Law and the Real Limits of Halakha Why Some Agunah Problems Simply Cannot Be Solved," Broyde, Michael. JOFA 4th International Conference. 2002.
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Fishbayn, Dr. Lisa
"Law, Gender, and Multiculturalism: the Case of Agunot," Fishbayn, Dr. Lisa. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: Can civil law act as a catalyst to change minority practices that discriminate against women? Theorists of gender and multiculturalism have argued that civil law can play a role in creating conditions that compel communities to change their norms into more egalitarian ones. This session explores this thesis, using the example of the Canadian Get Law to alleviate the plight of Canadian agunot. Has this law resulted in different norms for the issuance of divorce decrees? The development of novel solutions? A reinvigorated religious legal authority?
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Fodiman-Silverman, Ilana and Dr. Sarah Mendlovitz
"JOFA Agunah Advocacy Project: Working with Orthodox Institutions," Fodiman-Silverman, Ilana and Dr. Sarah Mendlovitz. JOFA One Day Conference, New York. 2001.
Synopsis: This session explores the personal experiences of two women who work extensively with rabbis and Orthodox institutions in pursuit of justice for Agunot. Learn about JOFA's Agunah Advocacy project and how you can get involved in the struggle to free agunot.
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Greenberg-Kobrin, Michelle and Esther Macner
"Between a Rock and Hard Place: Understanding the Interactions between Civil Religious Law," Greenberg-Kobrin, Michelle and Esther Macner. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: In this practical and informative session, two prominent attorneys will discuss how the beit din and civil law intersect in divorce law. How does arbitration affect the rabbinic courts and how are decisions of the beit din played out civilly? How do the civil get laws work and what kind of protection do they afford Jewish women? Are prenuptial agreements enforceable in a civil court of law?
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Halperin Kaddari, Ruth
"Why We are Losing the Battle," Halperin Kaddari, Ruth. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: In Israel, the Tel Aviv rabbinical court recently used a new tactic? the retroactive invalidation of a get ?because the court deemed that the conditions imposed on the woman (pertaining to the childrens? custody and visitation rights) had not been met by her. The use of this shocking tactic has been growing in recent years. Is this legal? Is it kosher? What is going on here and what does it portend for the future?
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Halperin-Kaddari, Ruth
"Says Who? Women, Men and Jewish Divorce: Whose Justice Is It?," Halperin-Kaddari, Ruth. JOFA 5th International Conference. 2004.
Synopsis: Do women and men see things differently when it comes to questions of justice, equality, and equity in divorce?
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Haut, Rivka and Marion Krug
"The Orthodox Community's Responsibility for Agunot," Haut, Rivka and Marion Krug. JOFA Washington DC Conference. 2002.
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Jackson, Dr. Bernard, Sharon Shenhav, Susan Alter, Lesley Sachs moderator
"Breaking the Chains: Halakhic Remedies for Agunot," Jackson, Dr. Bernard, Sharon Shenhav, Susan Alter, Lesley Sachs moderator. JOFA 4th International Conference. 2002.
Synopsis: This session analyzes the state of affairs in regard to agunot, in both Israel and America while explaining proposed halakhic remedies.
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Joseph, Norma Baumel and Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Susan Weiss, Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, Moderator
"Turning to Civil Law when Halakha Disappoints," Joseph, Norma Baumel and Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, Susan Weiss, Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, Moderator. JOFA 4th International Conference. 2002.
Synopsis: This session shares civil law strategies that agunah activists have adopted when the beit din system has been inadequate and ineffectual.
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Lenk, Marcie, Rachel Levmore, Sheldon Rudoff, Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin Moderator
"Equal Access: Women and the Beit Din," Lenk, Marcie, Rachel Levmore, Sheldon Rudoff, Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin Moderator. JOFA 4th International Conference. 2002.
Synopsis: This session questions whether or not Batei Din represent all Jews equally and how we can ensure that women receive equal and fair treatment.
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Levmore, Rachel
"Halakhic Solutions to the Agunah Crisis: A Report from the Trenches," Levmore, Rachel. JOFA 5th International Conference. 2004.
Synopsis: This session examines the roles women have played in the process of developing proposed solutions to the agunah problem. It includes a first-hand description of Rachel Levmore's personal role as a Rabbincal Court Advocate
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Levmore, Rachel
"The Solitude of a Woman Alone: In the Words of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik," Levmore, Rachel. JOFA 5th International Conference. 2004.
Synopsis: Levmore offers various suggestions for Rav Soloveitchik's interpretation of the Amoraic assumption that women would rather be married to anyone than be alone - "tav l'meitav tan doo." pdowww.jofa.org/pdf/inphase_conf_2004.pdf 0 748 ritual synagogue mixedtorahre "Hartman, Tova and Elie Holzer
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Levmore, Rachel
"The Tri-Partite Agreement: Can it Work?," Levmore, Rachel. JOFA 6th International Conference.
Synopsis: The tri-partite agreement uses three separate elements to end a marriage independent of the will of the husband. The novelty of this approach is that one document incorporates three elements, each of which has significant halakhic support. Is this the solution we have been waiting for? What conditions must be met before it can get widespread rabbinic approval? Will this solve the iggun crisis?
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Riskin, Shlomo and Adam Mintz
"Hafkaat Kidushin: A Halakhic Solution/Real Life Experience," Riskin, Shlomo and Adam Mintz. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
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Shenhav, Sharon
"Agunot: Good News and Bad News; An Update," Shenhav, Sharon. JOFA 3rd International Conference. 2000.
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Shenhav, Sharon
"Abandoning Agunot? The Cancelled Conference in Israel," Shenhav, Sharon. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: The First Global Rabbinic Conference on Agunot hosted by Israel's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar was to discuss systemic, global solutions to the problem of iggun. Five days before it was scheduled to open, the conference was cancelled due to pressure from ultra-Orthodox leaders. What message are we to take from this? Which groups should we be lobbying to resolve the problem of agunot? Does the cancellation prove that the right wing has the monopoly on effective communal pressure? One of the key agunah conference organizers will speak on what happened and will discuss strategies for effective future action.
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Biale, Rachel
Women and Jewish Law: The Essential Texts, Their History, and Their Relevance for Today. Biale, Rachel. Knopf, 1995.
Synopsis: Women and Jewish Law gives contemporary readers access to the central texts of the Jewish religious tradition on issues of special concern to women. Combining historical overview with a thoughtful feminist critique, this pathbreaking study points the way for "informed change" in the status of women in Jewish life.
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Breitowitz, Irving A.
Between Civil and Religious Law: The Plight of the Agunah in American Society. Breitowitz, Irving A.. , 1993.
Synopsis: Breitowitz focuses on what many regard as the cutting issue of Jewish law as it grapples with the disintegrative forces of twentieth-century life: the problem of the agunah or "stranded wife." In addition, the Agunah issue raises intriguing questions about the impotence of religious law in a secular society and how the establishment and free exercise clauses intersect to facilitate or hinder the accommodation of religious interests.
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Broyde, Michael
Marriage, Divorce, and the Abandoned wife in Jewish Law. Broyde, Michael. Ktav, 2001.
Synopsis: One of the most vexing problems to confront American Orthodox Jewry is where a wife is abandoned by her husband who refuses to give her a Jewish divorce. This work seeks to explain the agunah problem in the United States. It notes that the contemporary agunah problem in America is radically different than that of contemporary Israel and completely different than the talmudic agunah problem.
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Hacohen, Aviad
Tears of the Oppressed. Hacohen, Aviad. Ktav, November 2004.
Synopsis: This book, editied by JOFA founder, Blu Greenberg, is an examination of the agunah problem and looks at background and halakhic sources pertaining to the issue. problem. It proposes that the doctrine of kiddushei taut (error in the creation of marriage) be expanded to include blemishes that arose after the marriage was entered into and that this doctrine then be used by rabbinical cours to solve the modern agunah problems related to recalcitrance.
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Meiselman, Moshe
Jewish Women in Jewish Law. Meiselman, Moshe. Ktav, 1978.
Synopsis: Rabbi Moshe Meiselman addresses the attitude of Jewish law to women and how the Jewish tradition views the contemporary challenge of feminism. He discusses in detail such current issues as creative ritual, women in a minyan, aliyot for women, talit and tefillin. The question of agunah is also given lengthy consideration. The author mixes current issues with scholary ones and gives full treatment to other issues such as learning Torah by women, women position in court both as witnesses and as litigants, the marriage ceremony & marital life.
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Riskin, Shlomo
Women and Jewish Divorce: the Rebellious Wife, the Agunah and the Right of Women to Initiate Divorce in Jewish Law. Riskin, Shlomo. Ktav, 1989.
Synopsis: Based on historical data, Rabbi Riskin argues that there are ways in which women can start divorce proceedings. In an appendix, Rabbi Riskin presents his version of a premarital agreement designed to prevent this situation from occurring.
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Shenhav, Sharon
Halakhic Solutions to the Problems of Agunot. Shenhav, Sharon. JCPA and International Council of Jewish Women, 1999.
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Joseph Baumel, Norma & Brook, Evelyn & Bicher, Marilyn
"Untying the Bonds- Jewish Divorce," Joseph Baumel, Norma & Brook, Evelyn & Bicher, Marilyn. The Coalition of Jewish Women for the Get.
Synopsis: A Get Education Video and Guidebook, 1997
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Zuria, Anat
"Mekudeshet: Sentanced to Marriage," Zuria, Anat.
Synopsis: The film chronicles the individual struggles of women trying to obtain a Get from the rabbinical courts with the help of a group of female Orthodox rabbinical court advocates.
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New sources are continually being added to JOFA.org. Check back often!
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