The Chief Rabbinate Supreme Beis Din has sentenced a recalcitrant husband to five years imprisonment for refusing to give his wife a divorce. Dayanim Rav Eliyahu Hishrik, Rav Aaron Katz and Rav Michael Amos accepted the request of a woman send her husband to jail for his refusal to give her a ‘get’.

A beis din instructed the husband to give a ‘get’ a year ago. The husband was summoned to beis din to give the bill of divorce but he refused. Four months ago restrictions were placed on the husband including cancelation of his passport and closure of his bank account. These and other measures taken against him however have not resulted in his willingness to give a ‘get’. He told the beis din he will never release her even if she returns all of the property and their apartment.

The dayanim in their ruling explained that it is not easy for them to sentence one to prison but this is what is required in this case. The five-year prison term undoubtedly sends a firm message to other recalcitrant husbands and will hopefully serve as a deterrence for others who have refused to give a ‘get’ to date despite being ordered to do so by a beis din.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)