is it not enough that israel will not abandon its soldiers? do we also need "extra" reasons to seek their release? are there any circumstances where shas would not work with the rest of the government for their return? the discussions should centre on suitable retaliation as a deterrent to future kidnappings, rather than on rewards for the kidnappers. unfortunately, this discussion of karnit goldwasser's status doesn't help matters. any extra value placed on his return will only make the arabs increase their demands, since they are now bargaining "for karnit's life". sometimes it is better to say less and think more.

Doesn't the state have jurisdiction over when a spouse is presumed to be dead or missing, and the surviving spouse is free to re-marry? I'd be damned if I would trust something as important as this to a bunch of rabbis. They'll probably keep the poor woman in bondage just as they do with the agunot.

if it's not 100% certain that he's not among the living anymore unless she was really never married to him (legally) al pi halachah.

1. Karnit Goldwasser married Ehud Goldwasser according to the law of Moses in other words it was a Kosher wedding. 2. Karnit has stated many times that she is waiting for her husband to come home. 3. Karnit may read these TBs so let's remember to keep them kind and polite. No need to cause this amazingly strong lady any discomfort, embarrassment or additional pain. 4. Let's keep all of the MIAs in our prayers so that they'll come home soon.

did you read what you wrote, nyc girl?! "just as they do with the aguonot"? what do you think an aguna is? the poor woman is an aguna already!!!

1. Marriage falls under personal status laws...according to the laws of the State of Israel. a. Jewish Marriages are an issue for the Rabbinate to handle. b. Muslim Marriages are an issue for the Wakf to handle. c. Christian Marriages are an issue for the individual and various Christian Churches to handle. 2. with respect to a spouse who is missing, gone astray, lost or presumed dead...this is a sticky and tricky issue. I know that many happily married couples who take care of this by making sure that the wife holds an undated get (divorce document) which in the case of the husband going missing due to military service can be taken to the Rabbinate and executed so that the wife may be released. 3. It is a pity that neither Karnit Goldwasser nor Ron Arad's wife had such a document. In my opinion if Shas wants to do something positive it should make sure that all of the wives of soldiers in the IDF have this document.

My heart goes out to Karnit Goldwasser. Her life must be a living nightmare every single day. Same goes to Ehud'd parents as well as the parrents and family of Eldad Regev. For Hizbollah to deny any information regarding their fate, is the most inhumane act one can never imagine. This only demonstrate and reiterate the savagery, both physical and emotional, of these Lebanese animlas. The Israeli government should not have gone n ot even ONE step forward unless they have been provided with proof the Ehud and Eldad are alive..

The fairest exchange will be to swap them with dead terrorists.

Fallen soldiers (dead or captive) were not Torah observants; that is Ovadia Yosef's halachic definition. So what is the verdict of halakha regarding the "abandoned wife".

if in the future it is revealed that the Mossad was certain that captive soldier was dead but never announced that, what is its Halachic definition.