The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-26
UNUSUAL
JEWISH
DIVORCE

OF unusual interest are the post-nuptial
Incidents connected with the Green
Rosenfeld wedding, which occurred at
Woonsocket Tuesday evening, Jan. 3.
Alice r. Rosenfield OF Woonsocket was
married to Benjamin Green OF this city
at the Jewish Synagogue at Woonsocket.
On the evening OF the wedding day. while
festivities were in full swing al the home
Of the brides parents. Mr.. Green was
suddenly missed. His wife became anA-
ious
Eventually Il was learned that the hus-
band had been seized with severe hem
orrhage OF the lungs. His condition was
critical. lie said at the time that he had
been subject 10 such serious attacks be-
fore. Physicians were called and repored
his case as very serious. He was re-
moved to a hospital on medical advise
ment
Then was carried out singular cere-
mOny. Mrs Green, bride OF scarcely a
day, was divorced from her husband. the
divorce being IN accordance with ancient
writings i'm the Jewish law and destined
To operate at the decease of Mr.. Green.
The divorce was purely religious affair.
Such divorces under the Jewish law are
very rare, and as a rule it is difficult to
secure the services OF rabbi who will
consent to perform the ceremony. In this
cast a mutual friend Of both families went
to Providence, where he Tecited the cir
Cumstances TO a we'll known rabbi. The
latter decided 10 come to Woonsocket the
neat day and divorce Mrs. Green.
The principals and witnesses assembled
al the Rosenfeld house early in the morn
irg at 10 o'clock the ordeal began. Tho
ral bi had 20 ask many questions, and
many facts had to be presented in a man
ntr TO meet with his approval. IT was not
until I o'clock that afternoon That the
rabbi declared Mrs. Green divorced.
In the eyes OF the state and her church.
Miss Resented IS still the wife OF Mr..
Green. and will remain so until Mr., Green
dies. or one of the contracting parties
secure a legal divorce
Just how such a divorce has become pos
sihle Is a complicated but interesting
phase OF Jewish religious history. In Deu-
teronomy. XIV, O. IL is laid down in sub
stance that IL brethren dwell together.
and one of them die, and have no child.
tn, wife OF the dead shall not marry unto
stranger: her husbands brother shall
take her to him TO wife.
This provision was made, II Is supposed,
tn perpetuate the husbands name and
property interests in the tribe. Children
by this union were 10 bear the name of
the first husband. In case the brother re-
fused 10 marry the widow she was direct
ed 10 go before the judges and publicly
scorn the brother. This IL the ceremonial
as prescribed by the ninth verse Of chap
ter XIV:
"Then shall his brothers wife come
unto him I'm the presence OF the elder and
loose his shoe from off his foot and spit
in his face and shall answer and say:
So shall IL be done unto that man that
will not build up his brothers house,
The ceremony. whicn is common today
among the Orthodox Jews. rs called the
chalitza- II was TO avoid the necessity
az his wife going through II that Mr..
Green willingly consented to allow her TO
get a divorce.
That part OF the ceremony which con-
s,lts i'm taking off the shoe Is regarded
as a symbol OF release. Its origin, II Is
said, has never been ascertained, but the
symbolism attached 10 IL has arisen from
q passage i'm the book Of Ruth. 1t is still
q part OF the chalitZa ceremony.