New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04
~RABBINICAL DIVORCE"
EASILY BROKEN MATRIMONIAL TIES
AMONG THE EAST SIDE JEWS.

Before City Magistrate job Hedges. sitting in
the Essex Market Court the other day. there
cams UP a case Of "rabbinica divorce" one Of
the most curious customs Of the "Polacks'' Of
New-York. 1t is said to be prevalent among the
ow-class Jews that have lived in Russian Po-
land. and to exist to some extent among those
from Polish Austria. The incident was that OF a
pretty young Jewess. who had caused her hus-
bands arrest on the ground Of non-support She
refused TO prosecute after she. two lawyers act
Ing as ''wtnesses'O and rabbi had visited the
captive in the Essex Market Prison. and had
come away bearing a paper in Hebrew char
acters. signed by the rabbi TIE paper was a
"rabbncal divorce" according to the canons
Of the Law Of Moses. permitting the woman to
marry again at once If she so wed and with
out intervention OF the courts
1t did not need this incident to bring out the
fact that down in the Ghetto there are hundreds
Of such Illegal divorces granted yearly, Illegal
because certain rabbis ard lawyers connive at
fraud and tell the ignorant people whom they
set free in this manner that this paper is all they
will need. Among all the orthodox sons and
daughters Of Israel "Gett"-that Is, divorce
must be given them by a rabbi, no divorce being
true one unless it made by minister of
their creed Every good Jew thus needs two
The usual custom is to have the religious d-
vorce granted Immediately after the Court has
ha ded down his decree.
Few Of the "PolacAs." though, understand the
law Of the land They take the "rabbncal d-
vorce.' and az once hurry away to marry.
Nearly always they have planned a second mar
riase before they 20 to the rabbi. They are
perfectly innocent about it. moreover. and do not
haf
crossing any law. How many such cases of
bagamy brought about in this manner there are
in New-York to-day no one knows but ii is con-
tended that the number is large.
In the Ghetto rabies and assistant rabbies are
almost as tie sands of the seashore. To all it is
permitted to give "Gett," and the charges are
s.uail Ten dollars is large for this
service. and So is the usual fee The ceremony
i simple one. The rabbi will come to the
louse Of those desiring to be separated, they
60 to the rabbi. Besides the welded pair,
two witnesses needed. 1t is the husband
that gives "Gett." His consent is absolutely
necessary. 1t is the wife's part merely to re-
ceive II. and to take the certificate in curious
Hebrew characters that is handed to her by the
rabbi
The husband and wife and witnesses being as
rnbled. the rabbi asks of the husband the cause
tor which he wants the divorce. 1t is the abbrs
duty to reconcile the pair if possible: to make
Il sht Of the dsagreements and to persuade them
to live together once more. But in actual prac-
tice this consists Of merely perfunctory remarks
his part.
If "Gett" is not given, and there is no divorce.
the rabbits fee does TO him. II the
ignorant people before him. who know hardly a
wor of English. should learn from him that
bes ics this there is costly legal battle 10 be
fought. they would give up all hopes of divorce
ano 90 before So many rabbi yields to
temptation and mumbrg his questions, allows
Get" to be given in the twinkling Of an eye.
The wife hugs her paper to her breast and goes
out. as she thinks. unmarried. 1t is the same
with the husband. Down in these grim, narrow
streets east of the Bowery such people marry
again. perhaps before the day is out. Inside OF
year they may come to the same rabbi for
~Gett"
Under the Tamud divorce is easy There are
many pleas for which "Gett' may be given. 1t
II only among the Jews Of the lowest class how
ever. that this privilege on the part of the hus-
band is abused. One Of the old Jewish COM
mentators says that man may divorce a woman
views curious this Even among the lowest
classes IN NewYork and in the heart Of Poland
actual practice hardly gets down to this point.
but strange divorces have certainly been given.
In only very few Of the cases has adultery
been urg as the cause. and that is the only plea
that "Poack' could get admitted before a
New York court