Get (Halachic divorce) from a non-Jew?

Shalom and thank you for turning to us with your question. According to Jewish law, Halacha, a marriage between a Jew and a non-Jew is not considered a marriage at all. Thus there is no need for a Halachic divorce. We advise that you should be open with your son and tell him this straight out, because even if you would tear up a certificate your son could find out some other way. It would probably be more painful for him to feel that things were hidden from him, than to find out that you were in a certain circumstance and then changed for the better, by marrying a Jew, which is much more desirable from a Jewish viewpoint. This is because Jewish souls come to the world to fulfill a Jewish role. Jews are spiritually sustained by keeping the commandments of the Torah, and when this is done, especially when done sincerely with a goal of making continued effort to improve and come closer to G-d, the world in general is influenced for the good, as its states in Genesis 12:3 “Through you shall be blessed all the families of the earth.”

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, writes in response to a concerned parent: “It is explained in the Torah, in regards to a Jew’s determination to observes the mitzvot, that since G-d knows the future and looks into the heart, a resolute resolve to observe His commandments has an immediate impact not only in regard to the future but to some extent also in regard to the past, that is, retroactively.” This is amazing! You sincerely want the best for your son, and you have the possibility now of having a good influence on him by setting an example of someone who is making positive progress in their connection to G-d.

Thus, rather than worrying and dealing with the effort to hide things, you have the ability to proactively improve your present, your future, and even to a certain extent, your past!

We wish you much success and you may feel free to turn to us again.