A woman was finally granted a get after her ex-husband refused to grant her the Jewish divorce for 23 years, the women's organization Yad La’isha announced on Monday.
With the support of Ohr Torah Stone’s Yad La’isha: The Monica Dennis Goldberg Legal Aid Center and Hotline, T. resisted her husband’s repeated attempts at extortion. In exchange for her freedom, her 90-year-old ex-husband demanded large sums of money.
T., from a well-known Israeli family, entered her second marriage more than 40 years ago, but only discovered her husband had fraudulently used her accounts and assets to secure loans without her knowledge years after the wedding.
The husband had apologized, expressed remorse, and promised to return the stolen funds - a promise he has still not fulfilled.
At his urging, the couple moved to New York, but the marriage deteriorated further, and T. decided she wanted to end the marriage and return to Israel. Despite taking up residence with another woman in the US, he refused to grant T. her get.
Finally getting the divorce
In 2009, seven years after their separation, T. filed for divorce in Israel’s Rabbinical Court. Her then-husband ignored the hearings and continued to maintain his refusal. He also contacted her to demand payment for the get.
After 23 years, the ex-husband’s new partner passed away, and her family evicted him from their home. With no money or resources, he decided to move back to Israel. Border Police informed the Rabbinical Court’s Department of Agunot of his return, and a court representative, together with Rabbinical Court Advocate Devorah Brisk of Yad La’isha, began negotiations with the ex-husband to finally agree to a divorce.
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, T. was able to begin the new year as a free woman.
“This painful case is yet another reminder that get-abuse can happen to any woman, regardless of age, background, or status,” said Adv. Brisk. “I urge women not to assume it cannot happen to them. Every couple should sign a prenuptial agreement that prevents get-refusal. Only by doing so can we truly combat this devastating phenomenon.”