A different kind of valor: Ultra-Orthodox women share their experience of abuse and domestic violence

For women battling for custody against violent haredi fathers, the bar is very high to prove to batei din that a violent father is unfit as custodial parent of boys. Unless and until the batei din understand that violence against mothers is harmful to children, and renders a man unfit as custodian, many more children will come under the control of these super-controlling men, with the system operating in the mens' favor. Time to wake up and boycott batei din, or to take every such case to the high court of justice.

All three monotheistic religions need to face a fundamental issue: religion is more than ritualistic practices; its primary responsibility more fundamentally is to harmonize all aspects of human maturation---physical, psychological, emotional, and social life. What too often happens is that ritual becomes a fig leaf for all kinds of human failings. The rabbis have a great responsibility as do Christian and Muslim clergy not to accept dehumanizing behavior to hide behind poorly grounded religious authority. The state has a responsibility toward every citizen, to protect all from abuse of any kind, and particularly when abuse occurs in families irrespective of purported religious authority. Such action by legal secular authority can be a help to religious leaders by encouraging them to understand how human development is an integral part of spiritual development.

SO FAR IT'S ALL Israel's BRAGGING.and chest bleating ..seems that way to this outsiders observations, seems most women in ISRAEL are PUNCHING BAGS and pin cushions ...socially and religiously. The iSRAELI's give the impression and well deserved so, that women are treated as 2nd rate citizens and 3rd rated religious equals. WAKE UP MIDDLE EAST DEMOCRACY and let's see some EQUAL RELIGIOUS RIGHTS for ALL CITIZENS, spcifically defined by LAW! ALL JEWS ARE EQUAL...not more not less. Not male or female.

if the haredi culture prevents your men and women from developing the needed interpersonal skills to deal with the opposite gender. It is a sin for rabbis to ignore cries for help from battered women. They are not practicing Judaism, but something else. Shame of them.