Romance Is No Excuse for Financial Blindness in Marriage and Divorce

A Hebrew commentary argues that marriage should be treated as a financial contract, not just a romantic commitment, especially in a country where divorce is said to be close to 50%. The piece says couples often spend about 200,000 shekels on a wedding, but avoid frank discussions about money, careers, and what would happen if the relationship ends.

The article focuses on disputes over so-called career assets and future earning capacity, describing a common pattern in which one spouse, often the husband, advances professionally while the other, often the wife, reduces work to manage the home and children. By the time of separation, the higher-earning spouse may have a strong career and monthly income of tens of thousands of shekels, while the other spouse faces a professional lag, little pension savings, and a large income gap.

To address that imbalance, Israeli courts have increasingly awarded "rehabilitative alimony," either as a one-time payment or a temporary monthly allowance intended to help the weaker spouse retrain and rebuild. But attorney and mediator Tal Miron says the process is humiliating and expensive, because the claimant must prove financial dependency and lack of market value, while both sides hire experts such as actuaries, accountants, and valuators. She says these fights can last years and consume hundreds of thousands of shekels.

The article urges couples to sign a comprehensive prenuptial agreement while the relationship is still good, including מראש compensation formulas for career sacrifices and clear division rules. If the marriage is already breaking down, it recommends a concentrated mediation process instead of drawn-out court battles, arguing that a "marathon of mediation" can produce a settlement in days and preserve family assets. The conclusion is blunt: romance is valuable, but it should never be an excuse for financial foolishness.