Agudath Israel of America shared a statement from the Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim of Agudath Israel.
It has come to our attention that the so called “International Beit Din” (IBD) has issued multiple heteirim for married women to remarry without a get, utilizing various methods and arguments.
Gedolei Haposkim and multitudes of Rabbonim from across the spectrum have publicly decried the actions of the IBD and claim that their heteirim have no merit. The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah and Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim of Agudas Yisrael join them in protest. Throughout the generations such matters were dealt with exclusively by universally recognized, foremost Gedolei Haposkim, in conjunction with other Gedolei Hador, and we firmly state that it is unprecedented and unacceptable for these matters to be dealt with in any other manner.
We turn to Rabbonim from across the country and across the world, and to all who hold our Torah and Kedushas Yisrael dear, to only rely on decisions rendered by valid, recognized Batei Din. It is our opinion that no Rav may be mesader kiddushin for any woman on the basis of a heter from the IBD to remarry. While the plight of agunos pains us deeply, and we hope and pray for them to be released from the chains of igun, dubious heteirim do not resolve their predicament. To the contrary, it only complicates a woman’s situation by causing issues of issurim chamurim of arayus and mamzeirus.
The situation is so sad and so bad.
Many heterim have been issued over the centuries for all sorts of reasons to make life easier for Klal Yisrael. A heter meah Rabbonim for agunos could be worked out I’m sure. The will and the strength of purpose just has to be there.
Rav Hershel Shachter from YU and colleagues of his came out against the IBD years ago
Lee the letter linked below:
https://www.torahweb.org/torah/docs/ibd-machaa.pdf
Where there’s a will there’s a way
I’m glad the Agudah is taking a stand to make things harder, instead of actually doing about the problem. God forbid they take a stand in any way that protects people.
Tamar, I’m fairly certain that hetter meah rabbanim only works because the prohibition of a man having more than one wife is not an actual prohibition (certainly not a Torah prohibition) but a decree of Rabeinu Gershom.
For an agunah to remarry without a proper end of the first marriage is a Torah prohibition. If I’m not mistaken, because it is a Torah prohibition, hetter meah rabbanim could not possibly be used in such a case.
Really?? The women are always the victims.. rabbis find a way out to help them