US: Ultra-Orthodox Woman Secures Jewish Divorce After 6 Month Sex Strike in New York
In a significant development, Malky Berkowitz, a 29-year-old Orthodox woman, has finally secured her long-awaited “get,” or Jewish divorce contract, ending a sex months-long sex protest.
New York, September 15: In a significant development, Malky Berkowitz, a 29-year-old Orthodox woman, has finally secured her long-awaited “get,” or Jewish divorce contract, ending a sex months-long sex protest. This resolution comes after a dramatic six-month protest led by Brooklyn-based activist Adina Sash, known as “Flatbush Girl,” who rallied Jewish women to participate in a sex strike. Berkowitz's estranged husband had previously refused to grant the divorce, leaving her in a state of marital limbo for four years.
Berkowitz, a resident of Kiryas Joel, New York, faced a prolonged struggle to secure a "get". Despite being separated from her husband, Volvy, since 2020, he refused to grant the get, leaving her unable to remarry within the Orthodox community. This issue is emblematic of the larger problem faced by many Orthodox women who are trapped in marriages due to the husband's control over the get, a situation recognised by Jewish law but criticised for its impact on women's rights. 'Sex Strike' Announced by Ultra-Orthodox Women in US to Protest Jewish Law Requiring Husband's Permission for Divorce.
What is Jewish Get?
A "get" is a formal divorce document required under Jewish law to dissolve a marriage. Without this document, a woman remains legally married in the eyes of the Jewish community, preventing her from remarrying. This religious requirement places significant power in the hands of the husband, who must consent to the get for the divorce to be valid. The refusal to grant a get effectively leaves a woman in marital limbo, known as an agunah or “chained woman,” with no recourse to end the marriage or move forward in her life. A rabbi signs the get and is essential for the dissolution of the marriage according to Jewish law. New York City Council Member Susan Zhuang Bites NYPD Officer at Homeless Shelter Protest Rally, Arrested (Watch Video).
In response to this injustice, Brooklyn-based activist Adina Sash spearheaded a high-profile protest that garnered national attention. According to a report by the Times of Israel, Sash organised a six-month sex strike, encouraging Jewish women to withhold sexual relations on Friday nights and during periods of ritual impurity, known as niddah. The campaign aimed to create pressure on Berkowitz's estranged husband and draw public awareness to the plight of Agunot, leveraging collective action to prompt change. The campaign achieved a notable success when Berkowitz finally received her get on September 11, marking the end of her struggle and the strike.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2024 01:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).