Ta’anit Esther Agunah Day According to Jewish law a married
woman who is forced to live with another man may go back to her
husband. Illustrative image Photo: Marc Israel Sellem According
to Jewish law a married woman who is forced to live with another
man may go back to her husband, and thus by tradition Queen
Esther had hoped to go back and live with her Jewish husband and
cousin, Mordecai. This hope vanished when she went willingly to
King Ahasuerus, without being summoned. With this act, not only
did she put her life in danger, also gave up her chance for a
happy marriage, and from that day onwards was trapped in a
loveless Ta’anit Esther – the day we commemorate the fast for
Queen Esther, has for the past two decades also been known as
Yom Ha’Agunah – a day to remember the women trapped in loveless
marriages. This day was set by ICAR, the International Coalition
for Agunah Rights. Who is to blame for the plight of the agunot
(chained women)? First and foremost, those who keep them
trapped; the recalcitra