FL - Rabbi Uses Social Media To Pressure Jewish Husbands Who Refuse Divorce

Yomin Postelnik seen with his wife Leah and kids.

Boca Raton rabbi uses Twitter and Facebook to publicize case of Leah Postelnik

When a Jewish husband refuses to grant his wife a divorce, it is almost impossible to make him sign the papers. But social media is giving people a new avenue to apply pressure —through tweets, websites, email blasts and Facebook posts.

It's being brought to bear in the divorce between Broward County residents Yomin Postelnik and Leah Postelnik, who got a civil divorce in July. Yomin Postelnik, an unsuccessful state House primary candidate in 2010, has refused to sign the get, or Jewish divorce papers that would allow his wife to remarry, despite orders from several rabbinical courts.

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton Synagogue heard about the case and has been blogging, tweeting, posting on Facebook and emailing his congregation and fellow rabbis, urging South Florida Jews to snub Yomin Postelnik until he grants the divorce.

The use of Twitter and Facebook to pressure husbands brings get conflicts into an uncharted realm, said Rabbi Joel Roth, a professor of Talmud and Jewish law at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. He said only a Jewish judicial court can compel a man to sign the papers; other types of coercion could potentially invalidate a divorce.

"It would have to be determined whether a get which the husband agreed to give under the pressure of social media falls into this category," Roth said in an email. "I have seen no legal discussion of this question thus far."

Several recent social media campaigns have called on recalcitrant Jewish husbands to grant the get.

Supporters of Tamar Epstein, whose ex-husband, Aharon Friedman, refuses to give her a religious divorce, have been pressuring Friedman's boss, U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Michigan, to fire Friedman. They have protested in front of Camp's office, signed a petition at change.org, started a website (freetamar.org) and in February, bombarded Camp's official congressional Facebook page.

But Susan Aranoff, director of Agunah International, which supports Jewish women seeking divorces, said social media has little effect because many husbands still are resistant after "all the bullets have been fired."

Rabbi Goldberg said he plans additional measures to pressure Yomin Postelnik, such as rallies near his place of work. He said contemporary Jews are unable to change ancient Jewish laws, but need to find ways to work within the system.

"I feel strongly that the Jewish community has to stand up for women whose husbands are not doing the right thing," Goldberg said. "We are only talking about a few individuals. How can you turn a blind eye when you hear a story like this? We need to shun him until he cooperates."

Yomin Postelnik, 34, who was arrested for domestic battery in 2010 but not prosecuted, said Goldberg has been using "thug tactics," harassing him by calling his employers to tell them about his refusal to sign the get.

He said a Jewish judicial body he consulted told him not to sign the paperwork under pressure. Postelnik said he would sign the agreement if his ex-wife went for counseling, but is also interested in getting back together.

"I would take her back in a minute," he said.

Source:  Sun-Sentinel