The unique circumstances of Jewish law as interpreted by those who practice Orthodox Judaism can make divorce an extremely difficult predicament for women in the religion. For starters, only the husband can grant a divorce with a document called a “get.” While a woman can still seek a legal divorce, without the “get” she is still married in the eyes of her religion, even years after a civil divorce is granted.
Someone unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism may not understand the gravity of this scenario. Without the husband’s consent to a religious divorce, and without a “get,” an Orthodox Jewish woman cannot remarry or have more children. Without a religious divorce being granted, any remarriage is seen as adultery and can result in her being shunned from her Orthodox community. Read more.