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Last update - 12:49 02/10/2007
Ultra-Orthodox school bars girl over her 'mother's immodesty'
By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent

When Ruth (not her real name) asked to sign up for an ultra-Orthodox high school in her home town in the North, she was refused.

The official reason: Claims by the educational institution's management of so-called immodest behavior by her mother - which Ruth rejected out of hand.

In a letter written by the principal of the school a few days after the school year opened, while Ruth was still sitting at home, the principal revealed a list of conditions for accepting Ruth - all of which apply only to her mother.
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In the end, after almost three weeks at home, Ruth was accepted "on probation" to the ultra-Orthodox girls high school, the conditions being that her mother keep to the requirements listed in the letter.

According to Rabbi Yoav Lalum, claims of immodest behavior are usually a front for justifying discrimination. Lalum is the chairman of a non-profit organization battling ultra-Orthodox schools over sectorial discrimination against Jews of Sephardic heritage.

He added that his organization is now handling about 100 cases where ultra-Orthodox educational institutions have refused to accept such students.

In a letter obtained by Haaretz, the principal writes that Ruth would be accepted "but only on the condition that her mother accepts upon herself all the modesty restrictions including all their details, everywhere and always. It is important to note that if all the rules, or any of them, are not followed, then her daughter will not be allowed in the school, and the high school's management reserves the right to suspend the student if necessary."

The letter then details five general rules for Ruth's mother: "Completely covering her hair; shirts - not tight or with printed phrases, closed at the neck and covering the elbows; skirts - not tight, without slits, and jeans material is not allowed; socks are required and must cover all the exposed leg; and all fashion accessories must be modest and not stand out too much."

Other requirements demanded by the ultra-Orthodox high school include: "The atmosphere at home and what is said about the high school and those who work there must be positive." The school further demanded that nothing should be said that was not in the spirit of the school.

The conclusion of the letter included a statement from the principal that "it is important to note that the student is still not registered and her place [at the school] will only be guaranteed after all the conditions are fulfilled, and the high school's management is convinced of the change.

"If the expected progress does not happen, the student will not have a place in our school. If the matters are corrected for a period of time and afterward there is a relapse [from meeting the conditions], the student will removed from the school."

According to the principal, the list of conditions was accepted by the extended family.

Others in the ultra-Orthodox educational system said that often parents are willing to compromise and agree to such requirements so that their children can study in a well-respected ultra-Orthodox institution.

According to Lalum, it is easier for such institutions to disguise their racist motives for not accepting such students by claiming that the mothers are not modest enough. The situation is much worse in secondary schools for girls, since in elementary schools the local authorities can intervene. He added that his organization plans to petition the High Court of Justice on the matter soon.

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  1.   might as well put her in a burka 06:30  |  real vision 02/10/07
  2.   This article is nonsense 06:54  |  Nati 02/10/07
  3.   Haredi school bars girl over `mother`s immodesty` 06:58  |  Michael 02/10/07
  4.   Similarities 07:06  |  Janice 02/10/07
  5.   my, my...sounds just like the muslims... 08:14  |  samos 02/10/07
  6.   Is this "education"? 08:26  |  Esther 02/10/07
  7.   Nati is right 08:39  |  Ben 02/10/07
  8.   To Janice 08:52  |  Checker 02/10/07
  9.   How about at TALI School for her and others? 08:52  |  b`galil 02/10/07
  10.   VOICES OF THE MIDDLE AGE! 09:11  |  Robert 02/10/07
  11.   like baboons 09:21  |  Rafael 02/10/07
  12.   Typical Haaretz Anti-Ortho Smear 09:25  |  AJew in the US 02/10/07
  13.   to # 4 Janice - no it is not amazing. 09:28  |  Steve the Pals. 02/10/07
  14.   Wheres Cipora Julianna Kohn 09:32  |  maoriboy 02/10/07
  15.   ultra 10:48  |  eddie 02/10/07
  16.   Janice - #4 10:52  |  Alan 02/10/07
  17.   Racist ultra-orthodox ???? 10:58  |  Fussion 02/10/07
  18.   #12 11:00  |  Fussion 02/10/07
  19.   This is not news, just Haredi bashing! 11:06  |  Miriam 02/10/07
  20.   i don`t understand the skirts dragging to the ground 11:09  |  anonymous 02/10/07
  21.   Okay, see this in proportion 11:13  |  Hilonit 02/10/07
  22.   yeah yeah Samos 11:15  |  Hilonit 02/10/07
  23.   Good heavens, it`s not the Taliban 11:16  |  Hilonit 02/10/07
  24.   Al Qaeda in Israel 11:16  |  Roxana from IRAN 02/10/07
  25.   I think its the racist angle thats important 11:23  |  Jerusalem Shmuel 02/10/07
  26.   nudity 11:32  |  s 02/10/07
  27.   Dress correctness 11:35  |  leven5 02/10/07
  28.   Judaism and Islam 12:01  |  Said 02/10/07
  29.   What is a Sepharadis 12:09  |  Shlomo 02/10/07
  30.   To Satisfy the Rabbis At Their Own Game 12:21  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/10/07
  31.   galus mentality outside of traditional circles 12:53  |  sptz 02/10/07
  32.   Just for Sephardim: Sins of Parent rest on the Children 12:56  |  Buzaglow 02/10/07
  33.   ugh - הגולם חזר 13:07  |  disgusted 02/10/07
  34.   what`s really going on 13:07  |  Dave Klein 02/10/07
  35.   To Buzaglo 13:15  |  Serge 02/10/07
  36.   re: Al Qaeda in Israel To: Roxana from IRAN 13:24  |  Dave Klein 02/10/07
  37.   Janice and my issue with this story 13:26  |  Nik Miller 02/10/07
  38.   I hope the girl learns a lesson 13:28  |  Mark Lincoln 02/10/07
  39.   NO TAX MONEY FOR THESE HYPOCRITES 13:52  |  Pan Tea Hose 02/10/07
  40.   discrimination 13:55  |  Maggie 02/10/07
  41.   Sounds like Taliban 14:01  |  B 02/10/07
  42.   Haredi Dress Codes 14:04  |  Avi Yerushalmi 02/10/07
  43.   Why cant she go to a national religous school 14:05  |  Zody 02/10/07
  44.   School & "immodesty" on Tuesday 14:07  |  Tripodt 02/10/07
  45.   These fanatics should be ashamed 14:08  |  Haim 02/10/07
  46.   If this is a question of racism it IS a problem 14:13  |  Ofer 02/10/07
  47.   Next step the burkha 14:25  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/10/07
  48.   David Klien 14:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/10/07
  49.   Maybe aliya is not such a good idea 15:18  |  Shaun 02/10/07
  50.   Nothing weird here 15:19  |  Daniel van Dalen 02/10/07
  51.   Shaun 15:41  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/10/07
  52.   Ultra Private 15:55  |  Fish 02/10/07
  53.   Serge 15:56  |  Buzaglow 02/10/07
  54.   If You Don`t Like it Don`t Go There 16:00  |  MIKE 02/10/07
  55.   s.........if it`s not for sale ,don`t advertise it. 16:00  |  maria 02/10/07
  56.   thou shalt not commit adultery.... 16:09  |  maria 02/10/07
  57.   to no 39 16:13  |  thomas 02/10/07
  58.   michael from calgary 16:14  |  maria 02/10/07
  59.   Ha`Aratz goes the WWF route of reporting 16:43  |  Jacob Blues 02/10/07
  60.   mother`s modesty 17:00  |  michaela 02/10/07
  61.   And we are supporting these leeches? 17:07  |  Danny Epicorus 02/10/07
  62.   An innovative approach? 17:08  |  Yossi 02/10/07
  63.   Dosiim ! ma la-asot? 17:31  |  Kol ha Shouk 02/10/07
  64.   what`s wrong with high standard in school?? 17:37  |  maria 02/10/07
  65.   Who would want to go to a school like that? 17:37  |  Kipperraes 02/10/07
  66.   Welcome to the campaign JB 17:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/10/07
  67.   I can`t believe it.....people are no longer decent like you 17:43  |  maria 02/10/07
  68.   Avi #42 - There you go again..... 17:47  |  b`galil 02/10/07
  69.   Ultra-Orthodox school bars girl over her `mother`s immodesty` 17:50  |  Ira Allen 02/10/07
  70.   mark lincoln....it`s not insane. 17:50  |  maria 02/10/07
  71.   Shaun Don`t despair 17:59  |  b`galil 02/10/07
  72.   to 51 18:23  |  chava terry 02/10/07
  73.   B`Galil #68 18:59  |  Avi Yerushalmi 02/10/07
  74.   Ultra-orthodox school 18:59  |  Mego Godjamanian 02/10/07
  75.   Maria 19:09  |  Krish 02/10/07
  76.   To # 16 Alan - rabbinic spin 19:16  |  David 02/10/07
  77.   Maria you missed the point 19:57  |  Janice 02/10/07
  78.   Roxana ,I wish you Maoriboy kissing you on the Teheran`s street 20:20  |  Absolute Sweden 02/10/07
  79.   krish....is it not the truth?you`re guilty as well. 20:41  |  maria 02/10/07
  80.   Racism argument bizarre 20:43  |  Jon 02/10/07
  81.   janice...a jew became liberal or modernist? 20:47  |  maria 02/10/07