The three-justice panel of the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday, Baruch Hashem sided with a Jewish mother seeking to prevent her children’s non-Jewish father from taking the children to Holland.

The story began about a half year ago when the mother, who was married to a non-Jew R”L decided to bring her children to Israel, to raise them in a Jewish environment. The father was not pleased with mom’s unilateral decision, opting to turn to the Ramat Gan Family Court. He cited international law that if the mother takes the children without the father’s consent, she is viewed as having kidnapped them. The mother explained they if they are raised in Holland and they are not sent to Jewish schools, they will become assimilation statistics.

The family court ruled in favor of the father, instructing the mother to return to Holland with the two children immediately, adding they will remain in the father’s custody.

Attorney Yaakov Halprin represented the mother in her appeal to the district court and the latter overturned the family court ruling, siding with the mother and permitting her to remain in Israel with the children.

The daily HaMevaser quotes attorney Halprin, who told the newspaper he consulted with HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, asking if he must make a greater legal effort to assist the mother, pointing out his client is not currently shomer shabbos. The Gadol Hador is quoted as saying “There is no doubt that we must do everything possible. After a victorious ruling we must act to bring her closer to adhering to Torah and Mitzvos. Therefore, the next phase is our responsibility.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)