The Jewish community here is raising protests over a bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives which would make adultery the only grounds for divorce in the state. Grounds for divorce now include impotency, bigamy, adultery, desertion, habitual drunkenness, cruelty and conviction of a felony.
Rabbi Moses Mescheloff, chairman of the executive committee of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, said today that the passage of the bill would work a distinct hardship on Jewish couples seeking divorce, since adultery “is one of the most difficult grounds to prove. ” He noted also that it would interfere with efforts of reconciliation “because of the gravity of the charge.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
