Tikvah
Editors’ Pick

February 2, 2026

When Henry VIII Sought Out Rabbis to Litigate His Marriages

The ironies of history.

In his quest to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled, the English monarch Henry VIII tried to enlist the help of rabbis—believing that their knowledge of Hebrew and Scripture would allow them to interpret the book of Leviticus in a way favorable to him. This overture, made at a time when Jews hadn’t lived legally in England for over two centuries, failed, but the episode contains many fascinating details about Judaism, Christianity, and British politics—and abounds with ironies. Jerry Rabow dives into the subject in conversation with Nachi Weinstein. (Audio, 72 minutes.)

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