As per the news outlet, these women assert that the existing system, which mandates a husband’s written permission (“get”) for divorce, effectively entraps them in unhappy and sometimes abusive marriages. Their collective hope is that the sex strike will exert pressure on their husbands and the broader community, compelling them to advocate for legal reforms.
In a courageous act of protest, more than 800 Hasidic women in Kiryas Joel, New York, have initiated a sex strike. Their objective is to challenge a centuries-old Jewish law that significantly impedes women from obtaining a divorce .
However, the protest has ignited heated debates within the close-knit community. Striking women have endured harassment on social media and, shockingly, have even been targeted with thrown eggs. Adding to the complexity, Kiryas Joel’s rigid religious norms mandate that women must obtain rabbinical approval before reporting incidents of domestic violence to the police .
This intricate web of cultural and religious expectations further complicates the struggle for justice and empowerment faced by these women.
The crux of this issue centers around the “get”—an Aramaic document that carries immense significance in the context of religiously valid divorces. When a marriage faces dissolution, the wife finds herself powerless to obtain a divorce independently.
Instead, she must rely on the cooperation of her husband. Unfortunately, this vulnerability can be exploited by a spiteful husband, who may withhold the “get,” effectively holding his wife hostage within the confines of the marriage.
In these dire circumstances, women find themselves labeled as “agunah” or “chained women”. Among them, Malky Berkowitz, a 29-year-old resident, has emerged as the prominent figure in this protest. Since their separation in 2020, she has been unable to secure a divorce from her husband, Volvy.
Consequently, her faith prohibits her from remarrying, perpetuating her emotional and legal entrapment .
These courageous women anticipate that their bold action will drive transformative change, ultimately granting them the freedom to escape from their unhappy marriages. Their collective resolve stands as a powerful testament to their unwavering pursuit of justice and autonomy.
According to Adina Sash, the leader of the strike, Malky symbolizes every woman who has navigated the system with a demeanor akin to a docile, demure, obedient sheep. Her struggle resonates with countless others who have faced similar challenges within this complex framework .
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