Score two points for the forces of fatherhood and secularism: In France, a dad has just won custody of his sons after their mother kidnapped them, moved to Israel, and joined a community of charedim, or ultra-orthodox Jews. This is pretty significant stuff, as it required the Israeli High Court of Justice to give custody of Jewish kids to a dad who happens not to be Jewish, and in fact I can only find one writeup in English or French, a skeptical take from Yeshiva World News (which doesn’t even name the dad, Manuel Manrique):
Citing the Hague Convention, the dad requested from the family court to have his children returned to France, also citing his wife did not even bother to inform him of the birth of their second child. In the midst of their travels, the mom decided to return to the fold and she became a member of the chareidi community, further complicating matters perhaps.
The family court stated allegations of cruelty were not established and the court gave little credence to testimony from members of the mother’s family, that taking the children away would cause them irreparable emotional damage. This opinion was also accepted by the Haifa District Court and ultimately, the High Court of Justice.
Some of the kibbutz members went so far as to say she “despises chareidim” but felt by joining the community, if the courts are against her, the chareidim would side with her since the father if a goy.
This is great: Mom grabs the kids, absconds to the land of milk and honey, and cynically seeks out the protection of the biggest religious zealots around. Usually, this kind of chutzpah results in a decade of wrangling that messes the kid up for life. But this time, it didn’t work! Hallelujah! Sorry: “Hallelujah”!
Alas, the zealots may keep a hook in the kids. Mr. Manrique, who detailed his efforts on his Website, has reportedly said he “will do everything possible to permit [the kids] to maintain their frum lifestyle.” What is it they’re always saying about the French and surrender?
(Oh, and should I also mention this?)