WARNED OF REVENGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1929, Page 11

WARNED OF REVENGE

JEW’S WIDOW AND GHOST.

The Jewish rite of Chalitza by which a strictly religious widow has to obtain the permission of her dead husband’s eldest brother before she can marry anyone else was referred to in Shoreditch County Court. Mrs. Annie Goldman, of Stoke Newington, sued Monas Kimche, her broth-er-in-law, of Hampstead, and also a Mr. Kimche and wife, Sarah Kimche, to recover two amounts totalling £6B, in respect of loans. In reply, it was alleged that before the plaintiff re-married, it was agreed that certain payments were to be made in connection with the rite of Chalitza. Defendants were to receive £3OO, less a deduction in respect of the loans, and £.350 was to be paid to the plaintiff’s eldest brothei- in Chicago. Monas Kimche, in the witness box, said that the eldest brother' was to come from America. Witness was to receive £3OO for arranging the Chalitza. In cross-examination, witness was asked what he was actually to do in return for the £3OO. Witness: Nothing. (Laughter). Rabbi Sukmanski said that the brother in America had originally asked for £5OOO to release his sister from the obligation to marry him (the brother). Judge Cluer, looking at an Old Testament, “The law of Moses says she (the widow) must marry her deceased husband’s brother and not a stranger. If she will not marry him she is to loose his shoe and spit at him. It says nothing as to the position if the brother will not marry her. “It is a modern interpretation of Deuteronomy, xxv 5, that the widow shall not marry unless she receives permission.

Mrs. Goldman, in evidence, said she had been told by a Rabbi that if she married without obtaining Chalitza the dead relatives of her late husband would come at night and tear pieces off her.

Judge Cluer held, that because the telegram was not sent by Kimche, Kimche did not carry out his part of the bargain. Plaintiff therefore could repudiate, and was entitled to judgment.