TA Rabbinical Court Officiates Divorce Proceedings For Deaf-Mute Couple

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An unusual divorce proceeding took place this week at the Tel Aviv rabbinical court. A couple with severe disabilities came before the court; The husband is deaf-mute, while the wife is deaf-mute and also blind.

The pair had been married in a religious ceremony. [although technically such a marriage is D’Rabanan, due to a rabbinical enactment mentioned in Yevamot 13:1] A few months after the wedding the couple split up and now submitted a request to formalize their divorce.

Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, the Av Beis Din, [and a brother of rabbi Zamir Cohen from the Hidabrut organization] presided over the procedure. Due to the couple’s communication difficulties, the court used a special translator-carer who could use sign language to communicate with the husband. Since the woman cannot see, the translator used touch and hand squeezes to communicate with her.

Rabbi Cohen directed the court procedure with patience and sensitivity. The rabbi checked carefully that both sides understood the significance of being separated and were willing of their own accord to undergo the process. At the end of the hearing, the court prepared a special, rare kind of get which is designated for deaf-mutes, and the couple were formally divorced.