What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Ziona Greenwald writes:

The worst kind of tragedy is an avoidable one. The world of shidduchim is full of such avoidable tragedies–heartache and heartbreak attributable to the actions (and inactions) of misguided human beings.

In last week’s Jewish Press, a mother wrote in to Rebbetzin Jungreis asking whether her son’s bipolar disorder must be revealed to the girl he is seriously dating. Her husband says no. The mother is less sure. The boy’s condition is currently well-controlled by medication, and he’s happier than he’s ever been, so let’s leave well enough alone, his father says. After all, if the girl and her family find out, she might end the relationship. The mother doesn’t want to upset the apple cart either, but she’s uncomfortable about not informing the young woman.

Is anyone else horrified by this so-called dilemma? I shudder to think that these parents are actually considering letting their clinically ill son enter into marriage on false pretenses.