Debates about agunah and minyan

Question 1

Agunah

Answer 1

referring to a woman whose husband is missing but not known to be dead

Question 2

Two OJ issues with agunah

Answer 2

• only a man can instigate divorce proceedings

- husband can refuse a wife’s request to divorce.

Question 3

How does Liberal Judaism respond to agunah?

Answer 3

divorce is a civil matter not a religious one

Question 4

how does conservative judaism respond to agunah?

Answer 4

ketubah clause says women can divorce if husband disappears for several years with no communication

Question 5

How does Reform Judaism respond to agunah?

Answer 5

follow the law of the land which is the law.

Question 6

what does dosick mention that some couples do?

Answer 6

have a prenuptial agreement written stating if marriage ends in divorce, husband promises to grant his wife a Jewish divorce within a certain time after the civil divorce.

Question 7

what does rabbi sperber suggest about banning women from the minyan?

Answer 7

no reason to ban women, isn’t in the torah. only originally banned because of their lack of education.