The plight of the Agunah

In the United States, we secular Jews like to think of our brethren as forward thinking and progressive. We are reminded however that among the very religious beliefs may harken back many centuries and these clash with our (my) modern ideals.

If you click on the photo below, you will be led to a site displaying dresses which were designed for a fashion show/fundraiser for the rights of the Agunot, women who have been refused a divorce by their husbands. The dress below is from Efrat Kleig and Keren Volman.

Creator of heaven and earth, may it be Your will to free the captive wives of Israel when love and sanctity have fled the home, but their husbands bind them in the tatters of their ketubot. Remove the bitter burden from these agunot and soften the hearts of their misguided captors. Liberate Your faithful daughters from their anguish. Enable them to establish new homes and raise up children in peace.
Grant wisdom to the judges of Israel; teach them to recognize oppression and rule against it. Infuse our rabbis with the courage to use their power for good alone.
Blessed are you, Creator of heaven and earth, who frees the captives.
English Tefillah by Shelley Frier List

Please take time to read of the plight of the agunah and at the very least pray for the one who has no one else to prayer for her...