Losing her religion - and her children

That some Haredi leaders don't read the map rationally, doesn't mean that Haredi life is off-sides. Just as in the Civil Courts there are people that have "friends in the system" that know how to win the case, does it surprise anyone that it happens in the Batei Din? The issues may be different, one with money or controlling interests, and in Rabbinic Courts, what occured in the case of this woman that finally got her divorce. It be's that way sometimes. Other than that, if the story was a woman that became more observant and agreed to to take the case to Magistrate's Court and the husband succeeded to persuade the court that the wife was not worthy of custody, would HaAretz print that one?!

This situaion is so sad as to almost bring tears to my eyes. The hus-band described is nothing but an incarnation of pure evil. He is aided and abetted by the religious court whose members must get orgasmic over how much evil and cruelty they can impose in the name of Torah.

I knew an ortho lady, who also lost her faith, but she had the means to leave Israel for another country she was a citizen of and her children too were citizens of and to take her children with her there. Naturally she left so that her husband knew nothing about it. She called him first when she had safely landed in her other homecountry. Maybe leaving Israel is the only solution for Israeli women, who lose their faith for at least as long as there seems to be "two" systems within the state of Israel, where those who fall out of the "religious" system have no rights and no laws to protect their rights .... like their right to their children.

I think that when Ben Gurion capitulated to the blackmail of the Aguda and other ultra orthodox groups - giving them the power that the now wield - he was gambling that they would dissipate over time and lose any influence over society. We all lost that bet.

trapped in this cult.

Every once in a while Israel gives me a fresh reminder to be grateful for the wisdom of our Founding Fathers who made it illegal for this country to have a national established religion.

Its hard to believe that 'modern' Israelis, a countrz that aims to be European, Wesrtern and democratic, accept the authoritz of rabbinical courts in family matters. THis is not a story of a poor ex-Haredi women, it is an issue to which all Isralis who voted for the last governments indirectlz agree, to have their ´marriages and divorces regulated according to Torah law. Basically, what the woman experienced is what Torah law stipulates, and in a dmeocracy the people are to blame for enabling the rabbinical authorties to maintain authoritz over these matters.

what i find most frightening about this story is the concept of the Haredi community having any influence over the lives of Jews anywhere in the world. If they want to hurt each other its their business but ruining the rest of the jewish world, including Israel, should not be tolerated. My experiences with the Rabbinic courts is Jerusalem gave me the impression that they are Morons in black suits and long beards. Why the non Haredi orthodox world tolerates their behavior and allows them their power is a mystery to me.

A few issues: 1. When I took classes prior to getting married, to learn the laws associated with marriage, we learned the woman is the final say regarding relations. 2. A man has an obligation to please his wife sexually 3. A man cannot force his wife to engage in intercouse. It is a big no no. That being said, this is a one sided story from an unidentified source. As an "ultra-orthodox" man (label not used by any religious folk), a physician and a student (yes, a busy day) with thriving happy children and a wife who is creative and artistic and beautiful and who runs her own business, I can say this article is NOT a reflection on even a minority of Haredim. Wake up Haaretz readers and smell the reality. There are bad husbands and bad wives in every sector of society. To believe that somehow religious Judaism is to blame for whatever is involved in this debacle of a relationship, is short sighted and should make all of your "inquisitive" minds question.

Judaism does not just tolerate curiosity and questioning, it demands it. These "religious" people are not practicing Judaism, they are pagans in the truest sense of the word. In the Torah paganism is called avodah zarah, strange service. It is called strange because it makes no sense and is followed blindly, without question. Even a person who was born blind questions. It is only someone who chooses not to question who is truly blind.