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Hasidic sect tells London mothers to stop driving Hasidic sect tells London mothers to stop driving
(about 4 hours later)
Leaders of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect in north London have said children who are driven to school by their mothers will be turned away at the school gates.Leaders of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect in north London have said children who are driven to school by their mothers will be turned away at the school gates.
Rabbis from the marginal Hasidic sect Belz have told women in Stamford Hill who drive that they go against “the traditional rules of modesty in our camp”.Rabbis from the marginal Hasidic sect Belz have told women in Stamford Hill who drive that they go against “the traditional rules of modesty in our camp”.
In a letter sent to parents last week, seen by the Jewish Chronicle, they say there has been an increase in the number of mothers driving their children to school, and add that this has led to “great resentment among parents of pupils of our [Hasidic] institutions”. In a letter sent to parents last week, seen by the Jewish Chronicle, they say there has been an increase in the number of mothers driving their children to school and add that this has led to “great resentment among parents of pupils of our [Hasidic] institutions”.
The letter says the ban, to come into force in the summer, is based on the recommendations of Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the Belzer spiritual leader in Israel.The letter says the ban, to come into force in the summer, is based on the recommendations of Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the Belzer spiritual leader in Israel.
It says that if a mother has no other choice but to drive her child to school – for medical reasons, for example – she should “submit a request to the special committee to this effect and the committee shall consider her request”.It says that if a mother has no other choice but to drive her child to school – for medical reasons, for example – she should “submit a request to the special committee to this effect and the committee shall consider her request”.
The move has been met with some disagreement within the Orthodox community. Dina Brawer, the UK ambassador of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, told the Jewish Chronicle: “The instinct behind such a draconian ban is one of power and control, of men over women.” The move has been met with some disagreement within the Orthodox community. Dina Brawer, the UK ambassador of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance,said: “What this is really about is the curtailing of women’s freedom of movement rendering them dependent on men. It’s an issue of power and control not one of religious sensibility.
Banning #women from driving? This is not my #Orthodox #Judaism #JOFAuk @JOFAorg http://t.co/3JIYllkKsRBanning #women from driving? This is not my #Orthodox #Judaism #JOFAuk @JOFAorg http://t.co/3JIYllkKsR
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Brawer said: “The truth is that this has no scriptural, textual or legal basis. There’s nothing in Jewish law from which you can actually derive anything like that.” “The positioning of this ban is that women drivers somehow breach the values of modesty, which is absurd, as by any objective standpoint there is nothing at all immodest about a women driving a car.”
Brawer said blocking women from driving portrayed the Orthodox community as a “very patriarchal society where traditional values are upheld”. She added: “They are facing a changing world and they are reacting with an almost extremism.
“They see any role that women take outside the home space as a bit of a problem and somehow it’s really hard for them to see women being independent and doing things on their own. They see it as a perversion of the traditional values of modesty.
“They would be denying children’s education because of this perceived breach in modesty. They can afford to say they will bar children from school because they think people will comply,” she said.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the decree, saying the letter was from a marginal and unaffiliated group.The Board of Deputies of British Jews distanced itself from the decree, saying the letter was from a marginal and unaffiliated group.
But a statement issued on behalf of women in the sect by a local Belz women’s organisation said they felt “extremely privileged and valued to be part of a community where the highest standards of refinement, morality and dignity are respected”.
“We believe that driving a vehicle is a high pressured activity where our values may be compromised by exposure to selfishness, road-rage, bad language and other inappropriate behaviour,” they said.
“We do, however, understand that there are many who conduct lifestyles that are different to ours, and we do not, in any way, disrespect them or the decisions they make.”
Not all Orthodox sects discourage women from driving. This is believed to be the first time a ban has been imposed in the UK.Not all Orthodox sects discourage women from driving. This is believed to be the first time a ban has been imposed in the UK.
The Belz, who originated in Ukraine in the early 18th century and established their headquarters in Israel after the second world war, are one of the most prominent Hasidic sects.The Belz, who originated in Ukraine in the early 18th century and established their headquarters in Israel after the second world war, are one of the most prominent Hasidic sects.
In September last year there was similar controversy when posters put up by an Orthodox Jewish group warned women to walk on one side of the road for a religious parade. The posters were removed by Hackney council after they were deemed “unacceptable”. In September last year, there was similar controversy when posters put up by an Orthodox Jewish group warned women to walk on one side of the road for a religious parade. The posters were removed by Hackney council after they were deemed unacceptable.