ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors introduce basic Jewish law regulations and doctrines regarding key legal institutions related to marriage. They focus on changes that have taken place over time in Jewish law concerning marriage and divorce, primarily on those that are relevant to the status of the wife within this regime. The authors show that the Ban of Rabbenu Gershom was originally limited in scope and judicial force. The objective of marriage is reflected in one of the most important codes of Jewish law, the Arba’ah turim of R. Jacob ben Asher. The authors explain the development of various trends in Jewish law concerning polygamy and monogamy among the Mizrachi, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi ethnic groups in the Middle Ages. Christian society affected Jewish society, which in turn affected Jewish law. One of the most significant discrepancies between Jewish law and modern civil divorce law is the legitimization of no-fault divorce.
