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

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.