Ruti Brodo says she threatened to burn businesses over husband’s betrayal

Ruti Brodo, prominent Israeli restaurant group founder, revealed on the television program Mi Rotsa Leatchil that she once threatened her former husband and business partner, Mati Brodo, by telling him she would burn down their businesses if he fathered a child with another woman, mako.co.il reported.

The Discovery of Betrayal and the Renting of an Apartment

The culinary entrepreneur shared details of the personal and marital breakdown that occurred behind the scenes of her professional success. Brodo recounted that she lived in a state of denial regarding their relationship status, believing they were simply going through a typical rough patch while her husband insisted everything was fine. She met Mati Brodo when she was 18 and a half years old, noting that her sense of self-worth was very low for many years as she tried to discover who she was independently of him. Eventually, after she raised the possibility of separating, he agreed, and she rented a separate apartment.

Three weeks after the separation, their housekeeper mentioned that someone was living at Mati Brodo’s home. Confronted with the situation, her former partner explained that the new partner was a lawyer and an excellent woman with whom he wanted to have a child. Brodo stated that this disclosure provoked an intense reaction.

“I told him, ‘If you make children, I am burning down our businesses,'” Brodo said on the broadcast, describing the depth of the crisis and her shock at uncovering the reality of the situation.

The Conflict Over Family and Financial Contribution

Addressing the broader question of family planning, Brodo explained that the couple had struggled to conceive naturally when they were younger. Once they opened the Coffee Bar, she felt she had found her place and did not pursue the matter further as work consumed her focus. Reflecting on the emotional core of the betrayal, she noted that the profound insult stemmed from realizing that having a child was not a priority for Mati Brodo within their own marriage, where her primary role was bringing financial stability to the household.

“If he had wanted children with me, we would have had children, he wouldn’t have given up on me,” Brodo said.

Coping With Loss and the Aftermath of Separation

Now 65, Brodo reflected on the period following the birth of her former husband’s first child with his new partner, which triggered a turbulent phase where she briefly considered adoption during a year-and-a-half period of intense emotional distress. She sought guidance from an energy healer to process the grief of not becoming a mother. Following instructions from the therapist, she lay on a bed with her hands on her heart and womb to voice the profound loss.

“Ruti, during this period you cried,” her partner, Guy, told her, contrasting the experience with her usual demeanor.

Brodo confirmed she carries no lingering regret over how her path unfolded, having worked through the emotional crisis successfully.