Agunah
An agunah is a woman whose husband refuses, or is unable, to grant her a Jewish bill of divorce (get). She cannot legally divorce in Israel.
Who we fight for
CWJ intervenes when the state enforces religious rules at the expense of women’s civil liberties. Our legal advocacy ensures that women are free to marry, divorce, have children free from stigma, convert, participate in the public sphere without discrimination, and practice religion on their own terms.
All of CWJ’s legal services are free of charge.
Agunah
Agunah 2
Mamzer
A mamzer is a child born to a woman accused of engaging in a biblically forbidden union. The state blacklists these children and denies them the right to marry, inherit, receive child support and more.
Mamzer Think Tank
Mamzer
Immigrant
Women immigrants, often from the former Soviet Union, are subjected to cross-examination of their Jewish roots, at the time of marriage or divorce.
Immigrants
Convert
The state has the authority to question the piety and religious sincerity of women converts and sometimes revoke their conversions at the time of marriage or divorce.
Convert
Suspected Adulteress
A woman–but not a man–has her fidelity scrutinized by the state during divorce proceedings. The state blacklists “suspected adulteresses” and limits their right to remarry.
State investigations into women's marital fidelity
Gender Discrimination
Women are denied access by the state to public services, spaces, occupations and opportunities on the grounds of “modesty” and other religious claims.