Jerusalem Rabbinical Court Denies Wife 180,000 Shekel Ketubah Over Affair With AC Technician
A recent ruling by the Jerusalem Regional Rabbinical Court revealed a dramatic divorce case involving allegations of infidelity that led to the wife losing her right to a 180,000 shekel ketubah payment. The couple, married in 2017 with one child, separated after several years. The husband accused the wife of verbal and physical abuse, humiliation, and refusal to have marital relations, while the wife claimed the husband left voluntarily due to his neglect of household duties and preference for smoking and sleeping.
The case took a pivotal turn when the husband alleged the wife had an affair with a man identified only as "Mr. A," an air conditioning technician who had visited their home for repairs. Initially, the wife denied knowing him, but evidence and testimony revealed multiple visits by Mr. A, including occasions when he brought their child home from kindergarten. Mr. A was summoned to testify and admitted to having sexual relations with the wife "twice" during her marriage, despite initially evading the question and requesting legal counsel.
The wife continued to deny the affair, even accusing Mr. A of being bribed to lie. However, the court also heard testimony from Mr. A's ex-wife, who said their daughter had informed her about his relationship with a woman from the wife's city and that she had tried to warn the husband. The court found the wife's credibility severely undermined due to her inconsistent statements and overall demeanor during proceedings, labeling her as "kefarnit," a halachic term for someone deemed untruthful.
The ruling addressed complex halachic questions about relying on testimony from someone admitting to wrongdoing but ultimately sided with the technician's account, reinforced by the wife's lack of credibility. Consequently, the court ruled the wife was not entitled to her ketubah payment, effectively removing the 180,000 shekel financial claim from the divorce settlement. The case highlights the critical role of witness credibility and conduct in rabbinical court decisions beyond the initial divorce claims.
