Judge's comments spark 'return to Dark Ages'

The divorced woman who went to the Kfar Saba family court was surprised when the judge told her: "Next time find yourself a rich husband."

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
A divorced woman who went to the Kfar Saba family court to ask for her alimony not to be cut was surprised when the judge told her: "Next time find yourself a rich husband," reports www.local.co.il. The woman, who later complained to a women's legal organization, said the judge had shown a lack of sensitivity toward her and had even made jokes about her difficult financial situation. According to the report, the woman went to the family court to plead for her monthly alimony and maintenance not to be cut. When she showed the judge photographs of her daughters sleeping on the floor, he reportedly said, "That's fun. They can play at rolling around." The woman complained to a women's legal organization, which said it was unacceptable for a judge to humiliate petitioners in this way, and added that his suggestion that a woman's financial problems were the result of her not marrying a rich man was a "return to the Dark Ages." A court spokesman said the judge's intentions had been good and he had not intended to hurt the woman, but had wanted "to calm the atmosphere" in the courtroom. The spokesman said the judge had made the comment about finding a rich husband only after the woman demanded NIS 12,000 in alimony, when her ex-husband was earning just NIS 7,000 a month. The spokesman said no sanctions would be taken against the judge.