Family Life: Divorce
Divorce
In its ultimate
wisdom, the Torah understood the need for Get (Hebrew for divorce) in
human life. One must realize that a marriage made according to the
Torah can only be annulled by Torah. Conversely, a Get executed
according to the Torah can only annul a marriage made by the Torah.
Couples who
choose to separate without a Halachick Get suffer severe Halachic
consequences. Not only does the Torah still consider them married but
any children they might have with another spouse would be halachicaly
illegitimate.
A Get ceremony
must be conducted at a Bet Din (Hebrew for a Jewish court of law). The
Get must be written by a Jewish scribe and handed by the husband to the
wife in the presence of two witnesses. Husbands and wives can also
appoint agents to fulfill their duty for them if they are unable to be
there in person.
The concept of
Get does not in any way interfere with the idea that all marriages are
ordained in heaven. G-d’s ways are mysterious. For reasons unbeknown to
us he has decreed that some couples should marry for days, others for
months and yet others for years.
