What does Judaism say about ending a marriage? How can its teachings help you to make hard decisions about divorce that will affect you, your family, friends, and particularly your children? In this practical guide from a Jewish perspective, rabbi, father, divorcé, and pastoral counselor Perry Netter provides information, inspiration, wisdom, and strength for those experiencing—either directly or indirectly—this challenging life transition. Rabbi Netter explores the inner landscape of relationships, drawing on wisdom from centuries of biblical and rabbinic teachings, as well as modern psychological research, to offer practical suggestions for transitioning through the stages of separation and building a new life.
Topics covered include:
The existential question: “Why is this happening to me?”
The hardest question: “To leave or not to leave; how do I decide?”
The guilt question: “Is divorce kosher?”
The psychological question: “What do I do with all this anger?”
The most painful question: “How do we tell the kids?”
The ritual question: “How can I get closure?”
The awkward question: “What do I say to others?”
The legal question: “Should I mediate or litigate?”
The most important question: “How do we continue to raise children together?”
Divorce Is a Mitzvah is an indispensable guide for people in crisis and those who interact with them, showing us how to transform a traumatic time of life into one of growth, right behavior, and greater spiritual understanding.
