Explain gently that Judaism has a respectful way to end a marriage (a get) when needed.
Children wonder and discover; you facilitate more than you lecture.
- What is the Jewish tradition of divorce?
- Why do some people divorce?
- How do you feel about the traditional ceremony?
Judaism, uniquely among ancient traditions, has long allowed divorce through a document called a get. Children explore it as a structured, dignified ending — and that families take many shapes.
- Get — Jewish divorce document
- “Is divorce wrong?”
- No — sometimes ending a marriage is the kindest, healthiest choice; the people are still good.
- Children understand what a get is and the traditional divorce ceremony.
- Children understand relationships sometimes end, for many reasons, and that’s okay.
Many children have divorced or separated parents. Be warm and shame-free; affirm that all family shapes are whole. Notify families first.
Folktale. The Broken Plate (Custom / folklore) — a plate is broken at an engagement — some things, once broken, are honored, not hidden.
Changemaker. Rivka Haut — spent decades campaigning for agunot, women whose husbands refuse them a get, and helped found Women of the Wall.
How can an ending be done with dignity and care? (Big question.)