The subject of the treatment of Agunot is one of the biggest challenges facing Orthodoxy today. An Aguna (literally "a chained woman") is a woman who, denied a religious divorce by her husband is effectively left in limbo - neither part of a marriage nor freed from it and unable to start a new life due to her status. Women find themselves in the position of being blackmailed by recalcitrant husbands, tortured emotionally, sometimes forced to pay large sums in order to be freed from broken down marriages.
It is a matter which the Rabbis are finally waking up to, with pre-nuptial agreements which legally assure the rights of both halves of the couple in the event of a break down of the marriage becoming increasingly commonplace. For many women it comes too late.
Mekudeshet is an award-winning documentary following the struggle of three Agunot to obtain a divorce in the rabbinical courts. It is an important piece of film making which highlights their plight and the difficulties they face.
Young Hadassah-Israel are staging a private screening of the film, to be followed by a question and answer session with Anat Zuria, the film's director. The film is in Hebrew with English subtitles and the program will be in English. Men as well as women are welcome.
Monday January 3rd
Doors open 19:30, Screening at 20:00
Hadassah College, 37 HaNeviim St, Jerusalem
Admission free for Hadassah members, NIS 20 for non-members
Gilly
2 comments:
Thanks for posting this! I had seen it in the Post but kinda forgotten which day it was... it's tonight! I'm considering attending - will you & the wife be there?
Avi
avi AT aviandelina DOT com
I will indeed be there with my wife.
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