- Family and Society
- Damage and Theft
Boycotting Jewish business to free agunah
Question
Recently, the news reported the story of a religious man who refused to give his wife a get for apparently selfish reasons. Now people are calling for a boycott of his family business to stop them from supporting him. The problem is, boycotting the business could hurt innocent workers who have no links to this man and whose livelihoods could suffer. Is it halakhically (or morally) permissible to do this to free an agunah?
Answer
You ask a very painful question, for in the name of justice we clearly don’t want to harm others unjustly. In addition, one must be very careful to verify all of the details, and fully hear-out both sides of the issue, something that the news often doesn’t do properly, but Batei Din are very careful to do so. I therefore would strongly suggest checking with that Beit Din who, in Israel, has a lot of power to cancel credit cards, passports, driving licenses, not allow the husband to leave the country, or even jailing, before taking any additional sanctions. On the other hand, it is legitimate for you to ask that Beit Din if they would like additional public pressure from you and others to hold demonstrations, publicizing the facts or the like.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat
An Obstacle to the chuppah
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Adar I 27, 5774

Teshuva for stealing
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 4, 5774

rental terms and verbal agreement
Rabbi Menachem Copperman |

Trying perfumes
Various Rabbis | Sivan 2, 5768

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Writing a Torah Scroll in English
Adar II 25, 5771

Keeping non-definite chametz and staying in a dorm
Nisan 3, 5771

Ayin hara and Rambam
Tevet 28, 5771

Mezuzah for a Catholic Family?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 15, 5779

The Jews and the land of Israel as God’s promise to Abraham
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 13, 5773

Jews murdering prophets
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tammuz 2, 5780

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Shema
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Kislev 13, 5784
Teshuvah between Individuals
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Kislev 10, 5784

Acquaintances who support our enemies?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 7, 5784
