Israel: Religious ostracizing now illegal

[JJ]

Quote:

City rabbis ostracize woman who dared petition civilian court

.....

Then, on Yom Kippur, the beit din issued a "writ of refusal" against the
petitioner and her family, effectively ostracizing them from the city of
Elad. Placards were hung on the streets, and denizens of the small city were
instructed to treat her as if she had "rebelled against the Torah of Moses,"
because she had opted to utilize the state court system instead of the beit
din, according to Hiddush. A writ of refusal in haredi society is extremely
serious and can lead to boycotts and sanctions, including on a place of
business or on marrying the children of those bearing the brunt of the writ.


Now, Hiddush -- represented by attorneys Uri Regev and Edna Meirav -- and
the petitioner have headed to the High Court to have the writ of refusal
order rescinded. According to Hiddush, "the rabbinical court illegally acted
outside its jurisdiction, in a manner that constitutes an obstruction of
justice and extortion by the beit din and the rabbis operating it."

End quote



http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=9427

Jay