In an unprecedented move, one of America's most influential Jewish leaders has given a man 24 hours to resolve a controversial second marriage or face community consequences.
The Satmar Rebbe, leader of the largest Hasidic community in the United States, publicly addressed a case that has sent shockwaves through Orthodox Jewish communities worldwide. At issue: a man who married a second wife while allegedly failing to properly divorce his first, leaving her unable to remarry under Jewish law.
"The man claims to have permission from 100 rabbis (Heter Meah), but many have withdrawn their signatures after discovering misrepresentations," the Rebbe declared during a dramatic speech at Kiryas Joel's main study hall. He demanded either valid documentation or immediate resolution through a proper religious divorce to one of the wives.
What is a Heter Meah Rabbanim?
It is an extraordinary and rarely-used procedure that allows a man to take a second wife - but only under the most extreme circumstances. It dates back about 1,000 years, when Jewish leaders banned men from taking multiple wives.
However, they recognized that extreme situations might arise where a wife couldn't accept a religious divorce due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, such as severe mental illness. For these exceptional cases, they created this complex procedure requiring 100 qualified rabbis to review and approve the situation.
What makes this permission particularly controversial is that it doesn't actually end the first marriage. Instead, if granted, the man becomes legally married to both women under Jewish law. This option isn't available to women, who must receive a proper religious divorce before they can remarry under any circumstances.
In today's Jewish communities, religious authorities strongly discourage using this loophole, viewing it as an absolute last resort for truly exceptional cases.
Critics argue it can be misused as a way to bypass proper divorce proceedings, potentially leaving the first wife in legal limbo. In fact, many modern rabbis refuse to participate in granting such permission, fearing it could be used to circumvent traditional divorce processes and potentially harm vulnerable women.
Rabbi Yair Hoffman, a writer for The Yeshiva World, explains: "In the United States, some rabbis have utilized the 'Heter Meah Rabbanim' in a manner that has never been discussed in the poskim. They use it to allow husbands to remarry while not giving the first wife a get."
The case took a surprising turn last week when Rabbi Avraham Katz, who had supported the controversial second marriage, attempted to flee Israel despite a court-ordered travel ban. He was arrested at the airport and is now under house arrest after posting a $150,000 bond.
Earlier attempts to resolve the situation included a multimillion-dollar settlement offer negotiated by Rabbi Shimon Zeev Meisels, the Rebbe's son-in-law.
However, the deal collapsed after what sources describe as interference from outside activists (which might or might not include the legendary Jewish women's rights activist (@flatbushgirl) Adina Sash). Sash has a huge social media where she boldly rallies for Agunot (Jewish women whose ex-husbands are cruelly denying them their Jewish divorce - get) .
The controversy has even split religious authorities, with Jerusalem's prestigious Edah Hachareidis rabbinical court refusing to support the second marriage, citing concern for the rights of the first wife.
"This isn't just about one case," said a community source speaking on condition of anonymity. "It's about maintaining the integrity of Jewish divorce law in modern times."
Kikar Shabbat contributed to this article.
