Soc.Culture.Jewish Newsgroups Frequently Asked Questions and Answers URL: www.scjfaq.org/faq/08-25.html

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Question 8.25:
What should a man do if his wife leaves him for another man?

In theory, if a wife has an affair the husband is obligated to get divorced. Again...in theory. In practice, we do not require the court to believe the evidence. However, in such a situation, lamentably, there is often no marriage to try to save. The wife left. The man ought to give her a get, a divorce writ. These can really only be handled by a beis din, a religious court.

Note: Since a decree by Rabbeinu Gershom in the 10th century, a man not only must give the writ, the wife must willingly accept it. If she does not, the marriage is not terminated. In which case, things can get pretty difficult. There are ways to deal with this situation, but again, it really requires a beis din.

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