Monday, February 27, 2012

If Aharon Friedman was Muslim, what kind of reaction would he 'Get'?


Sometimes what is remarkable is what isn’t said.  Aharon Friedman is on the staff of Rep. Dave Camp, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.  Mr. Friedman and his wife were legally divorced nearly two years ago.  That isn’t, however, enough to free Mr. Friedman’s wife from the marriage.  Mr. Friedman and his wife are Orthodox Jews.  In Jewish Law, in order for the divorce to be final the man must grant his permission.  This is done in the form of a document called a Get.  Mr Friedman has not given his wife a Get.  A campaign to force him to do so is gaining steam and publicity.  There is very little being said, however, about the acceptability of the Jewish traditions themselves.  No one is ranting and raving about the fact that Jewish Law is operating in the United States … and it is operating.  No one has warned of a takeover of the American legal system by Jewish Law.  Imagine, however, if Mr. Friedman was Mr. Mohammed.  Islam has similar marriage laws which give the husband more control than the wife.  Similarly, Islamic marriage law does operate in this country, although a little less openly than Jewish marriage law.  The reaction to a Muslim man blocking a divorce would be a little different, however.  Islam as a whole would be put on trial.  The man’s actions would be called a threat, medieval, and evil.  It would be linked to terrorists.  9/11 would be brought up.  The Republican Presidential candidates would be getting involved in the act.   The Congressman would be implored to fire his staffer.  Now, I understand that Jewish marriage law and Islamic marriage law are different.  It may well be the case that the gender biased provisions in Jewish law come into play less often than is true in Islam.  These differences, however, would not come close to accounting for the difference in reactions.  We may not have any better an understanding of Judaism then we do of Islam, but we don’t approach it with as much fear, anger, hatred, and even blind rage.  The reaction to Mr. Friedman’s withholding of the Get is appropriate.  Jewish marriage law is not a threat to the American social fabric.  This is just a case of one person abusing Jewish law.  It does not call into question Judaism itself and Jewish people everywhere.  It seems ridiculous to even suggest that it would.  Unfortunately, if this story were about Mr. Mohammed rather than Mr. Friedman it wouldn’t seem nearly ridiculous enough to way too many of us.  

No comments:

Post a Comment