A sociological assessment of divorce phenomenon in Jewish community in Iran

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – As the results of an assessment of divorce phenomenon, as one of the most challenging social issues in Jewish communities both in Iran and worldwide, showed the divorce rate in Jewish communities in Iran is so high that cannot be easily ignored.

“Jewish community as a traditional community in Iran, due to its intertwined social structures and traditional ties existed in particular religious and tribal territories over centuries, has been resistant to modifications and changes. Thanks to these intertwined local and religious relationships, Jewish community has been immune against the sharp trend of events including modernism in Iran over the past hundred and fifty years.” the assessment made by the Jewish journalist and sociologist Marjan Yeshayaee said

Jewish community surrounded by a high traditional wall, regardless of its general pros and cons, has been kept as a closed society. Despite immigrations, this closeness, as the stronghold of Jewish traditional beliefs, has almost remained fixed. Relationships of Iranian Jewish in abroad are also affected by these traditional beliefs.

Modernism-based evolution such as “changes in family relationships, basic definition of a family and types of resolving domestic problems” have taken place in the Jewish community in Iran with a big delay although we believe the issue has been hidden under the skin of society.

Divorce among Jewish

Divorce is the most challenging social issue among Jewish in both Iran and the world. Jewish clergies who have implemented in accordance with customary and common rules rather than Sharia laws have not shown any flexibility towards giving the rights of divorce to each of the couples, and the door is turning on the same heels as it did tens and hundreds years ago.

This writing has focused on social and cultural aspects of divorce turned to Gordian knot in many cases rather than how Jewish clergies approached it.

To be continued