London – The Civil Court of Appeal of England has ruled in the dispute between a divorced charedi couple regarding the education of their children.
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During the couple’s 10-year marriage, the couple and their children adhered to a strictly ultra-Orthodox lifestyle. Following the couple’s separation and divorce two years ago, the mother attended the Open University and embarked on a professional career. It was then that she decided she wanted her children to have the education she never had.
The Telegraph (http://bit.ly/QOQadq) reports that the court ruled in favor of the mother, upholding an earlier court decision that she is best-suited to make decisions about the children’s educational needs. The father had argued that he does not want his daughters to attend a mixed-gender school or his kids to have access to television, movies, “certain newspapers”, or the internet. He said he was concerned his ex-wife would lead the children astray from their community and friends and disparage ultra-Orthodoxy.
Lord Justice Munby said that while it was once the “sacred right” of fathers to determine how their children would be educated and raised, such views are inconsistent with modern day society. He noted that education is of “transcendental importance” to the charedi community, but said modern English society believes that all children should have equal opportunities and be allowed to choose the type of life they wish to lead.
The mother says she has been ostracized by the charedi community since her divorce, but that she still intends to raise her kids as Orthodox – just not ultra-Orthodox.
Wow, this is happening throughout the world. I commend this women because she wants to lead an HONEST life and not fake a lifestyle she does not feel comfortable with. However, the social aspect of finding your way can be treacherous. I hope the father will maintain a positive relationship with his child and not fight with the mother.
I hope this doesn’t rip the Jewish community apart
Just orthodox; please describe what she means. Going to secular schools is not done by the even orthodox. I think the judge make a mistake since the children were being brought up orthodox or ultra orthodox, making the change can cause
mental problems. It is bad enough they are divorce she does not need to add more confusion for the children. They were married for 10 years and they were ultra orthodox; she is changing why should the kids pay. Also if she was sincere
you would keep the children as they were. Also the fact the community ostracised
by the community is showing she is doing something wrong. Usually in the ultra orthodox community they go over backward to help the divorce woman
Aren’t you glad you are not involved in family law? Nasty fights.
May this rasha get her just due from the RBS”O soon.
By virtue of the fact that this case was in secular court, somebody is ALREADY setting a bad example for the children…
Now the child will have the advantage of learing math, science, history and everything important to survive. More judges should rule like this! This child will become a productive member of society and one day, may even become a Judge!
Kudos
If the pope would be a judge – he would say the child should be brought as catholic.
What can you expect from the judge who indulges into all the taivos of the world, that he can have an honest opinion what is good for the child?
If he would say that the child should be brought up frum – than he would be saying “I am a low life myself”, he’d rather say the father is off, and he and the mother who went off the derech are right.
IT’S HIGH TIME TO ADD A CONTRACT TO THE KESUBA. THE CHUSEN AND KALLAH SHOULD SIGN A DOCUMENT THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE MARRIAGE, THE KIDS WILL HAVE TO BE RASIED AS AGRED UPON AT THE TIME OF MARRIAGE.
Why aren’t the fathers wishes just as important ad the mothers? Let the kids attend yeshiva then university. Letting minor children choose is abdication of parental responsibility; they can choose when they reach age of majority. This is just more statist denigration of individual rights.
Torah does not forbid secular education.
Unfortunately in cases of divorce where one parent is less frum than the other, it does sometimes end in the children going off the derech. I know of a case where the the parents divorced because the mother started becoming less and less frum. First the children were taken out of a Yeshivish school and put in a day school and then from that they went to a public school. Some of the children stayed frum, but the others who went with their mother did not.
that verdict is totally wrong. this children will suffer their whole life because of this decision, the fact shows that when a child is growing up in one society, and then a father or a mother are changing their life style, and forcing their children into their new life style does children are getting damaged in the end. its a fact!. and im talking from personal experience.