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EspañolAre there proactive steps a couple can take to prevent a woman from becoming an “agunah”?
When a Jewish man and woman get married, there are some things they can do to help make sure the woman won’t become an agunah. An agunah is a “chained woman” who is stuck in a marriage because her husband won’t give her a Jewish divorce, called a get.
In the Conservative movement, couples may include the Lieberman Clause in their ketubah (Jewish marriage contract). In the Orthodox movement, couples may sign the Halachic Prenup. These are both types of agreements meant to stop men from being able to use get refusal as a way to pressure or control women.
Talking about religious divorce before getting married might feel uncomfortable, but it’s a smart and caring thing to do. It helps couples make sure they share the same values. Learning about Jewish marriage and divorce laws can empower a couple to make responsible choices. A couple can ask their rabbi to understand how things work in their Jewish community.
