Unraveling Religion, Judaic Edition

'It's Bitter Sweet,' What Does Judaism Say About Divorce?: A Talk With Rabbi Ezra Weinberg, Founder of Jews Get Divorce

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In this episode, Rabbi Jess explores and delves into the topic of divorce with Rabbi Ezra Weinberg, examining 'why does divorce make some people so uncomfortable?' 

  • divorce touches on the idea that there is nothing more painful than dashed hopes
  • people think of divorce as a synonym for 'a failed marriage'
  • Reb Ezra shares reframing divorce as 'marriage coming to completion'
  • is there a lack of communal support in our commmunity for divorce?
  • why is divorce sometimes so awkward to talk about?
  • what are some appropriate responses to divorce when people are experiencing it?
  • why are we afraid to address divorce when people are going through it?
  • Exploring the marriage contract (i.e., Ketubah) as both a marriage document and a divorce document 
  • The importance of a Get

    • Aspects of Rabbi Ezra Weinberg's work with divorce:

    • Jews Getting Divorced
    • Divorce First Responders

      • Also explored in this conversation: 'Does the Jewish community sometimes isolate people going through divorce?'

      Discussed is the consideration of divorce as a sacred moment in one's life.

      What are the rituals in divorce to help with closure?

      Reb Ezra shares the core message of his work: 'the central spiritual gesture of divorce is 'release.''

       

       

      Biography 

      Reb Ezra Weinberg is a Philadelphia-based rabbi and a practitioner of conflict transformation. He is the founder of Jews Get Divroce. Among his various projects, he officiates weddings and b’nai mitzvah; teaches courses on connecting to Jewish prayer; and helps communities get unstuck around the topic of 'Israel.' He is an adjunct faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he teaches the class, 'One G-d, Three Paths,' alongside a priest and an imam. Whether he is working as a shaliakh tzibbur, a Jewish educator, a song leader or a Jewish camp professional, his role in the Jewish community and beyond always comes back to his ability to lift spirits, create community and plant seeds of transformation.

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      Unraveling Religion, Judaic EditionBy Rabbi Jessica Minnen and Joel David Lesses