The Marital Knot

This insightful book explores the historical and legal struggles of agunot, shedding light on their plight and the rabbinic decisions impacting their lives in The Marital Knot.

In The Marital Knot, Noa Shashar presents a comprehensive study of agunot, women who are unable to remarry due to their husbands' refusal to grant a divorce. This exploration is rooted in extensive research across rabbinic texts, personal memoirs, and communal records, shedding light on the complexities of Jewish family life during the early modern era. The book delves into the roles played by rabbis whose legal decisions profoundly impacted the lives of these women, often relegated to a marginal status within society.

Shashar raises important questions about the identities of both the agunot and the rabbinic figures involved in their fates. The narrative examines how Jewish communities addressed the risks associated with a woman becoming an agunah and the societal implications of such a status. It highlights the harsh realities faced by these women and the limited options available to them for liberation from their predicament, often hinging on the whims of male rabbinic authorities.

By reevaluating the halakhic decisions made during this period, The Marital Knot offers a fresh perspective on the attitudes of rabbinic decisors towards the emancipation of agunot. This study not only illuminates the historical context but also encourages a deeper understanding of the ongoing challenges faced by women in similar situations today.