Crossing a Narrow Bridge: Reframing Jewish Divorce

The widespread experience of divorce is a story too often not told in the Jewish community. Given that Jewish divorce rates hover just north of 50%, most Jews are directly impacted or living themselves within a divorced family system. AND … there are unique challenges and opportunities to this life stage and circumstance. But we need to talk about it.

Luckily, our sages and commentators have been talking about this for centuries. They were NOT operating under the same taboos of divorce that we are today.

Join me in this six-part class as we explore both the ancient and modern conversations on this pressing topic that impacts so many of us. Using ancient texts, stories, reflective activities and ritual weaving, we will together imagine a Jewish community that knows how to show up for people going through this chapter of their lives. The phenomenon of divorce is not going to disappear. Therefore, let us begin writing a new chapter, without shame, of what your Jewish family looks like.

Rabbi Ezra Weinberg is a shaliach tzibur, officiant and Jewish educator dedicated to creating connection and community. He is a native Philadelphian and holds a master’s degree in conflict transformation. Reb Ezra officiates weddings and bnai mitzvot, teaches a university course called, “One G-d, Three Paths,” alongside a priest and imam. He currently works with individuals and families within the Jewish community, and founded ReVoice, a network of resources for Jewish going through divorce. “The work that I do is inspired by my own divorce, as well as my experience as a child of high conflict divorce. A big part of my mission is to offer support in Jewish contexts when divorce radically changes a family’s path. However, I also want to change the conversation around divorce within the Jewish community today, so that it is no longer taboo to get divorced or talk about divorce.”