Rabbinic court bans woman from introducing kids to female partner

A government rabbinic court in Jerusalem has issued an order prohibiting a woman from bringing her children to meet her female romantic partner.

Israel’s Center for Women’s Justice filed a petition this week with the country’s Supreme Court on the woman’s behalf challenging the rabbinic court’s order.

According to the center, the rabbinic court’s order came during divorce proceedings between the woman and her husband. The couple agreed that the woman would have custody of the children, but the husband asked the court to issue an order prohibiting the woman’s partner from seeing the children.

Without such an order, the husband said he would refuse to grant his wife a get, or a ritual divorce. The court has agreed to his request.

Because Israel does not allow civil divorce, Jewish couples must divorce through the rabbinic court system.