Rabbinical judges in Jerusalem last week rejected a motion for divorce filed by a battered woman, saying that her husband had only resorted to violence because she wanted to divorce him. Accordingly, they said, his physical attack on her could not serve as grounds for divorce. …

Despite the husband’s conviction of beating his wife on three occasions, the rabbinical judges wrote that his behavior had been an aberration, that he had admitted to his mistake and “we can assume he won’t be repeating these deeds in the future.” …

The regional rabbinical court’s administration responded that contrary to the woman’s claim, the incident was categorically nonrecurring and the husband has no pattern of violence; he apologized and expressed remorse, and therefore the court does not see this single incident as grounds for divorce. “The woman may appeal,” the administration pointed out.