A dramatic case of domestic violence, restraining orders, and divorce refusal reached its conclusion this week in an unusual proceeding at the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court.
The case involved a woman, mother of seven from a previous marriage, and her husband, who had no children from his previous marriage to a non-Jewish woman. The husband refused to contribute to household expenses and began showing violent behavior toward her children. At one point, the situation escalated when the wife struck the husband, punching him in the face and breaking his nose. After she filed a complaint that led to a restraining order, the husband went into hiding and avoided divorce proceedings.
The case was transferred to the Anti-Agunah Division, which worked determinedly to locate the husband. Working closely with Senior Staff Sergeant Tomer Avrahami from the Moriah Police Station and Jerusalem Police's detective unit, authorities finally located and arrested the husband in Jerusalem's Katamon neighborhood.
When brought to court, the husband claimed he had been promised he could grant the divorce without seeing his wife. While the court acknowledged such discussions had occurred, they explained these terms were contingent on a voluntary divorce, which hadn't happened, thus voiding the agreement. When it became clear he couldn't avoid granting the divorce, the husband found a creative solution: he placed a sheet of paper in his collar to hide his face, allowing the proceedings to conclude.
Rabbi Eliyahu Maimon, head of the Anti-Agunah Division, stated: "This case proves definitively that the Rabbinical Court's reach extends to every divorce refuser. We recommend anyone in such situations to arrange divorces through respectful and agreed-upon channels. The system works decisively to ensure every woman can start a new chapter in her life."
The Rabbinical Courts Administration continues to serve as a central address for resolving marital disputes and providing assistance in cases of agunah (chained women), working in cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
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