Washington Jewish Week reports today that in Gaithersburg, Maryland, city council held a public hearing Monday night on an emergency ordinance that would restrict pickets in front of the house of Gaithersburg resident Sam Rosenbloom. The protesters are attempting to convince Rosenbloom to grant a "get" (Jewish bill of divorce) to his wife Sarah. The couple was granted a civil divorce almost six years ago, but Sam Rosenbloom refuses to give his ex-wife a get because she filed a criminal complaint against him. The complaint was dropped before coming to trial, but Sarah has refused to apologize and make restitution. Under Jewish law, a woman may not remarry until her husband gives her a "get".
Protests in front of Rosenbloom's home have been held for almost two years, and recently have been occurring on an almost weekly basis. They are organized by the New York-based Organization for the Resolution of Agunot. Pickets hope that signs and slogans such as "Unchain your wife" will "apply social pressure to free" Sarah Rosenbloom. The proposed ordinance (full text) would prohibit picketing by or in front of a private residence, though it would not ban marching in a residential area without stopping in front of a particular home. It would also not apply if the residence was also the occupant's sole place of business or if a public meeting were being held there. A similar law was upheld against constitutional attack by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988 in Frisby v. Schultz. Protesters said that if the new law is passed, they will continue their protests in conformity with it. [Thanks to Eugene Volokh via Religionlaw for the lead.]
