Rabbinical Court Uncovers Jewish Polygamous Sect
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By Josh Nathan-Kazis December 7, 2016
An Israeli rabbinical court has discovered a Jewish polygamous cult operating in Tel Aviv, according to a report by the Israeli news website Arutz Sheva.
According to the website, a 20-year-old Israeli woman approached the rabbinical court to ask to annul her marriage, saying that she had entered into a religious marriage with a man who was already married.
The case is currently under investigation by the religious court.
The woman, who was not raised observant, was taken in by an Orthodox man and his wife after she left a seminary for newly religious women. The man began to make sexual advances after a number of months. Eventually, he took her as his second wife in a secret ceremony.
Arutz Sheva reports that the man and his wife were members of a clandestine group called Complete Jewish Home. The group has quietly advocated for polygamy in Israel for years.
Israel outlawed polygamous marriage in 1977.
Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at nathankazis@forward.com or follow him on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.
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