Judge Refuses Court Divorce Until Jewish Divorce Is Secured (Jewish Daily Bulletin)
The old Jewish divorce, or “Gett” procedure, with all its traditional ceremonies and symbols, took place in private court before Circuit Judge Theodore J. Richter, under the guidance of Rabbi Joseph Thumin of Congregation Beth Abraham, this afternoon.
Judge Richter, when petitioned to divorce Louis Hoffman of 908 Hendrie street, this city, and his wife, Anna, refused to issue a court divorce until the couple had secured a Jewish divorce. He did this in order to leave both parties free for remarriage under the Jewish laws. An Orthodox rabbi was needed for the ceremony, and Rabbi Thumin was called. Judge Richter gave the bench over to Rabbi Thumin, and the rabbi sat for an hour with the Shulchan Aruch, the book of Jewish law, before him, and surrounded by his assistants, L. Cohen the Sofar and the two witnesses, H. Weisenfeld and S. Weiner.
In the meantime the judge was a very interested spectator. He inquired whether it was necessary to wear a hat during the ceremony and the rabbi permitted him to go bareheaded. Until then, he did not remove his hat. Judge Richter listened with close attention to the entire procedure and from time to time questioned the rabbi regarding certain ceremonies and symbols which the rabbi explained in detail.
After the demands of the Jewish divorce laws were satisfied, the judge expressed his admiration and respect for the whole of the procedure. Judge Richter then issued a legal divorce to the couple. Judges, lawyers and reporters of various newspapers were eager and interested spectators of the “Gett” proceedings.
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.
