1999/5759
Introduction
Last week we began discussing why virtually the entire Orthodox Rabbinate has rejected the Rackman-Morgenstern Court. We reviewed the halachic literature concerning a case in which a husband found a severe defect in his wife. We demonstrated that the halacha provides for precious few, if any, cases in which a marriage may be considered invalid on this basis. In this essay, we will discuss the halachic approach to cases in which a woman finds a severe defect in her husband. We will review the views of the Acharonim on this matter with a special focus on Rav Moshe Feinstein's extraordinary lenient ruling.
Acharonim- Aruch Hashulchan and Chazon Ish
The Gemara, Rishonim, and Shulchan Aruch discuss only the case of a man who finds a defect in his new wife. The case of a woman who finds a severe defect in her husband and not make any explicit conditions during the wedding ceremony, is not explicitly addressed. We do, however, find an extended discussion of this issue in the Acharonim. The Otzar Ha'Poskim (chapter 39) presents a detailed review of the voluminous halachic debate on this issue.
We will begin by presenting the views of the Aruch Hashulchan (E.H.44:10) and the Chazon Ish (E.H.69:23). These two major authorities rule that even if a woman discovered an extremely severe flaw in her new husband, such as that his male organs are missing or damaged, the marriage is nevertheless valid. They base this ruling on the Gemara's (Yevamot 118b and Baba Kama 111a) celebrated (but frequently misunderstood) phrase that "Nicha Lah B'kal D'hov," a woman will settle for any companion. The Gemara cites Resh Lakish's famous phrase "Tav L'meitav Tan Du Mil'meitav Armelo," a woman feels that it is better to be together with another (even with a "very low quality" partner) than to be alone.
This Gemara does not mean that all women will settle for a marginal husband. Rather, explains Rav Moshe, (see Igrot Moshe E.H.4:113) since some women have this attitude, we must be concerned that perhaps this particular wife is one of that minority of women who would accept any man as a husband. Thus, as long as she didn't expressly stipulate at the wedding ceremony that she married this man on condition that he has no defects, the marriage is valid. One cannot assume that there is an implicit condition that she would not marry someone with a severe defect. Thus the marriage is not invalidated if a women finds an extremely severe defect in the husband. It appears from the Aruch Hashulchan and Chazon Ish that the woman requires a Get on a Torah level.
A Middle Opinion - Rav Yitzchak Elchanan, the Beit Halevi, and Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski
Some Poskim, however, take a more moderate approach in this matter. Both Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (Be'er Yitzchak 4:3) and the Beit Halevi (3:3) rule that if a woman discovers a severe defect in her husband after the wedding, such as impotence, she only requires a Get on a rabbinic level. Thus, if other lenient considerations exist, such as if a witness to the wedding ceremony was unqualified to serve as a witness or if the husband is missing and possibly may be dead, one may possibly rule leniently and permit the woman to remarry. An example of such a lenient ruling is found in Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinki's Teshuvot Achiezer I:27. It should be emphasized that Rav Chaim Ozer had other reasons to issue a lenient ruling besides the "Kiddushei Ta'ut" factor. It seems clear that he would not have permitted the woman to remarry solely on the basis of "Kiddushei Ta'ut".
These authorities believe that one should not interpret the phrase "Nicha La B'chol She'hoo" literally. Rather, there are some men who are actually considered to be less than "Kol She'hoo" (minimal). Thus, an impotent man is less than a minimal husband and it is obvious that the wife never would have married such a man, even if she didn't state this explicitly at the wedding ceremony.
Nevertheless, both the Beit Halevi and Rav Yitzchak Elchanan believe that if no other lenient consideration exists she does require a Get on a rabbinic level. The Beit Halevi writes that "there is absolutely no room to say that she does not need a Get, for even if a man finds a severe defect in a woman, a Get is rabbinically required." Similarly, Rav Yitzchak Elchanan argues that Chazal were concerned with the highly unlikely possibility that perhaps the woman would have tolerated marrying an impotent man. He cites as a precedent Chazal's refusal to permit a woman to remarry if her husband drowned in an "unending river" ("Mayim Sh'ein Lahem Sof"), even though it is extremely unlikely that her husband is still alive.
Rav Moshe Feinstein's Extraordinary Rulings
However, Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe E.H.1:79) argues that if a woman discovers a severe defect in her husband she does not require a Get. Rav Moshe writes that one should make all efforts to obtain a Get, but a lenient ruling may be issued if all efforts to procure a Get have failed. He reasons that some defects are so severe that it is without a doubt that no woman would have married this man. Rav Moshe takes issue with Rav Yitzchak Elchanan and argues that no woman would marry an impotent man. Thus, just as a man who marries a women who is an "Ailoneet" does not require a Get, so too a woman who married a man and immediately discovers that he is impotent does not require a Get. Rav Moshe takes this exceedingly bold argument (it is bold because, as Rav Yosef Henkin notes in his Peirushei Ibra p.43, it lacks any textual basis in the classical sources) one step further. He argues that even Rabbeinu Tam (see last week's article), who rules that in a case where a man discovers that his wife an is "Ailoneet" a Get is needed to terminate the marriage, would agree that if a woman discovers a preexisting severe defect in the husband she does not require a Get to remarry. This is because, argues Rav Moshe (with no textual support for this argument), only a man would possibly agree to marry a woman with a severe defect. This is because he has a relatively easy halachic exit from the marriage. However, it is obvious to all, argues Rav Moshe, that no woman would marry a man with a severe defect. She would never take a risk that perhaps she would tolerate the man's problem, since she knows that in the likely event that she will be dissatisfied she will have no easy halachic mechanism to escape the marriage.
Rav Moshe applied this ruling to cases in which the husband concealed that he was institutionalized prior to the marriage (E.H.1:80), concealed that he was a practicing homosexual prior to the marriage (E.H.4:113) and concealed that he converted to another religion prior to the marriage (E.H.4:83). It should be noted that in the last case, Rav Moshe did not apply his leniency if the woman was not observant of Torah law. It must be clear beyond the shadow of a doubt that the woman never would have married such a man. It also should be noted that in all of these cases the woman left the man as soon as they discovered the severe defect. Rabbi Rackman (in a letter sent to the membership of the Rabbinical Council of America) errs in asserting that in the apostasy case the husband converted after the marriage.
Interestingly, a prominent psychiatrist told this author that Rav Moshe may not have ruled this way today because the availability of psychiatric drugs allows for many psychiatric illnesses to be treated. Moreover, impotence can be treated and cured in most cases today and some homosexuals with the help of psychotherapy can lead a healthy married life. Thus, it is not absolutely certain that no woman would marry a man with such defects. Also, Rav Moshe did not rely on the women's testimony alone to verify the husbands' impotence and mental illness. Rather, the rabbis involved in the case were able to examine the medical records of the husbands and the doctors even testified that they unsuccessfully tried to cure the husband's impotence. In today's society it is highly unlikely that such information would be forthcoming from medical officials. Rabbi Rackman also reports (in the aforementioned letter to the RCA membership) that Rav Moshe annulled a marriage in a case in which a husband murdered a gas station attendant after the couple's wedding. This "ruling" does not appear in any of Rav Moshe's writings and Rav Moshe's family and students claim never to have heard of such a ruling.
Rabbi Rackman's Error
In these responsa, Rav Moshe certainly stretched the halacha to its outer limits and virtually no other halachic authorities have adopted his position (although a very great rabbi may choose to issue a ruling in accordance with Rav Moshe's views in case of emergency when it is absolutely impossible to procure a Get from the husband).
Rabbi Rackman, though, erroneously seeks to apply Rav Moshe's ruling ever further. Rabbi Rackman argues that if a husband's abusiveness to his wife during the course of the marriage indicates that at the time of the wedding the husband "had the seeds" of an "abuser personality." Accordingly, Rabbi Rackman asserts that since no woman would want to marry someone with an abusive personality, the marriage can be nullified on the grounds of "Kiddushei Ta'ut."
This argument has been rejected by the entire Orthodox rabbinate for many reasons:
1) The Aruch Hashulchan's point (mentioned last week) that if the marriage lasted for some time one cannot claim "Kiddushei Ta'ut," because the longevity of the marriage creates the presumption that the parties accepted each others faults.
2) "Kiddushei Ta'ut" is a valid claim only if the wife complained immediately after the husband's defects were revealed. If a woman tolerated her husband's abusive relationship she cannot claim "Kiddushei Ta'ut," (although the rabbinic and lay community must do everything in its power to help an abused spouse), as we explained in last week's essay.
3) The fact that one has an "abuser personality," does not guarantee that he will actually abuse his wife. Although some in the field of psychology believe in determinism, the Rambam (Hilchot Teshuva 5:1) writes that the belief in free will is a core belief in the halachic world view. Thus, it is not clear that no woman would even agree to marry a man with the potential to be an abusive husband. This is especially so in light of the psychotherapies such as rational behavior emotive therapy which empowers a person to control his anger. The Beit Din of America (RCA-OU) summed up this argument well: "potential psychological tendencies do not create 'Kiddushei Ta'ut' since they may remain undeveloped."
4) One could easily argue that everyone has the potential to have an abusive personality. Indeed, the Rambam (Hilchot Teshuva 5:1) writes that everyone has the potential to be as wicked as Yeravam, son of Nevat. Thus, part of entering into marriage involves taking a risk that the husband may choose to exercise his Yetzer Hara instead of his Yetzer Hatov. Thus, improper behavior by a party in a marriage cannot be assumed to have been present earlier in the form of "seeds." Moreover, in every investment the business has the potential to fail. Just as in business one takes risks, so too in marriage one takes risks (see Tosafot, Baba Kama 110a s.v. D'adata). One cannot succesfully claim in Beit Din that had he known the business would fail he would never have invested in the company. Similarly, one cannot say that if the marriage fails, it was not valid in the first place. Indeed, when the Shulchan Aruch (E.H. 154:3) discusses the propriety of coercing a physically abusive husband to give a Get, the option of declaring the marriage null and void is not mentioned.
5) It is often difficult to formally produce incontrovertible evidence that someone has physically abused his spouse (see Rama, E.H. 154:3). In Rav Moshe's responsa, doctors and medical records corroberated the women's claim of impotence and institutionalization. On the other hand, the "Jerusalem Report" (August 9, 1998) related that Rabbi Moshe Morgenstern issues his rulings merely on the woman's word. This is undoubtedly unacceptable (see, for example, Teshuvot Nodah B'Yehudah E.H. 54 cited in Pitchei Teshuvah E.H. 157:9).
6) In August 1998 the Rabbinical Council of America, circulated a document signed by Rabbi Moshe Morgenstern. This document stated that a particular woman was permitted to remarry on the basis of a "Get" granted by a court on behalf of the recalcitrant husband. The document contained numerous errors in the basic procedures and laws of Gittin (such as the spelling of names), and appears to indicate Rabbi Morgenstern's lack of familiarity with the vital, practical intricacies of the laws of Gittin. The Shulchan Aruch (E.H. 154 Seder Ha-Get introduction) rules that one should treat the Gittin issued by such an individual as invalid.
7) According to press reports, the Rackman-Morgenstern court also grants Gittin on behalf of recalcitrant husbands. This ceremony was deemed worthless in the eyes of halacha by Rav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (Seridei Aish III:25) and Rav Herzog (Teshuvot Heichal Yitzchak E.H. 2:64:3-4). A Get is not valid unless the husband orders the scribe to write the Get and witnesses to sign the Get (see Mishna that appears on Gittin 71b). It is worthwhile to note that Rabbi Rackman frequently refers to Rabbis Herzog and Weinberg as primary Halachic authorities for the modern Orthodox community.
Conclusion
We have presented merely a brief summary of why the Orthodox rabbinate has rejected the Rackman-Morgenstern court. We hope that we have made it clear for our readers why Rav Soloveitchik publicly compared the Orthodox rabbinate contemplating the adoption of the Rackman proposal to the Republican party contemplating adopting Communism as its party platform (Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society 9:140).
A much lengthier treatment appears in the current issue of Tradition in an excellent article authored by Rabbi J. David Bleich of Yeshiva University. Also, Rabbi Bleich succesfully rebutts other arguments made by Rabbi Rackman such as the argument that Kiddushin does not exist today. According to Rabbi Rackman's argument all Jewish couples must divorce because none of today's marriages are halachically valid. In response, Rabbi Bleich explains at length the fundamental mechanism of how Kiddushin works and how Rabbi Rackman errs in his understanding of the nature of Kiddushin.
Let us hope that the women "freed" by the Rackman-Morgenstern court will not choose to have children until they receive a valid Get from their husbands. Virtually the entire Orthodox rabbinate will consider the children of these women to be "Mamzeirim."
A Call to Action
Both the rabbinic and lay community must unite to fight the tragedy of Agunot and the danger of the Rackman-Morgenstern court. We must convince Agunot to avoid this court and to help them receive a univesally accepted Get. On the other hand, we must do all we can to reduce the incidence of Igun. The prescription for greatly reducing incidence of Igun is universal usage of a Halachically acceptable prenuptial agreement, severe social sanctions against recalcitrant spouses, activist Batei Din, and enactments of Halachically acceptable Get laws in every jurisdiction.