New record in Israel: married and divorced at 14

The courts said in a statement that this was the most unusual divorce on record, and certainly the one involving the youngest party. Two years ago, 16-year-olds who had married according to Jewish law were also granted a divorce by the courts. Their divorced status, said the RCA spokeswoman, would likely appear on the teens' identity cards when they receive them at the age of 16.

A report released two weeks ago by the National Council for the Child showed that in 2006 some 4,304 minors under the age of 18 were officially married in Israel, 166 of them under 16. However, the majority of underage unions occurred among Muslims.

The minimum age for marriage under Jewish law is 13 for boys, 12 for girls.

Mishnah Kiddushin 1:1 specifies that a woman is acquired (i.e., to be a wife) in three ways: through money, a contract, and sexual intercourse. Ordinarily, all three of these conditions are satisfied, although only one is necessary to effect a binding marriage.