A woman in the US received a get, a Jewish divorce document, from her husband, after three years, following financial sanctions imposed by Israeli rabbinical authorities on his assets in Israel.
The couple had lived in Florida for over a decade, before separating in 2023. The husband refused to grant the woman, L., a get, demanding increasing financial compensation for it despite a rabbinical order for him to give it to her.
L. turned to the organization Yad La’isha: The Monica Dennis Goldberg Legal Aid Center for Agunot, part of the Ohr Torah Stone network in order to receive assistance in pressuring her husband to divorce her. Attorney and Rabbinical Court Advocate Tehila Cohen from the organization petitioned the Haifa Rabbinical Court to impose liens on the husband’s financial assets in Israel, including bank accounts and real estate.
The couple initially agreed to arbitration in the US, but the husband obstructed the process, prompting Israeli authorities to issue additional rulings placing further pressure on him. These additional measures included initiating receivership proceedings on the husband’s Israeli assets.
Husband relents to economic pressure
Days before a scheduled court hearing, the husband relented and appeared before a rabbinical court in order to agree to grant L. the get.
“This case once again demonstrates the powerful leverage of economic sanctions against recalcitrant husbands, even when they reside outside of Israel,” said Cohen.
“Thanks to close cooperation with the Rabbinical Courts’ Agunot Division, L. is now free to move forward with her life. We will continue to pursue every available avenue to secure freedom and independence for women facing similar situations, in Israel and around the world.”
