(8) Killer Wife

According to Jewish tradition, a woman who outlives two husbands is labeled a "killer wife," believed to bring misfortune to any future spouse. In Israel, a woman suspected of being a killer wife needs special permission to legally remarry. Susan and Rivkah dive into a fascinating 2014 rabbinic court ruling that allows one such woman to escape the stigma—while paradoxically reinforcing the very law that condemned her.

 

Justice Unbound is made possible by the generous support of the Gimprich Family Foundation.

 

Book mentioned in this podcast:

Pious and Rebellious: Jewish Women in Medieval Europe by Avraham Grossman