Information on whether the Ministry of Absorption would take away children of mixed parents (father's Christian and mother is Jewish) because the parents do not raise them according to Jewish Orthodox faith [ISR15397.E]

According to a representative of the Israel Religions Action Centre (IRAC) in Jerusalem, the Ministry of Absorption has no jurisdiction in religious matters and has nothing to do with taking a child away from his/her parents because they do not raise him/her according to Jewish Orthodox faith (28 Sept. 1993). The representative added that the minister himself is a member of a left-wing party and a secular Jew and, therefore, would not tolerate such action by his ministry (Ibid.). The Ministry of Absorption has no legal authority in the country to take away a child from a non-Jewish parent or mixed parents (Ibid.).

A representative of the Society of St-Yves, a human rights organization in Jerusalem, stated that the Ministry of Absorption would not take away children of mixed parents (Christian father and Jewish mother) because the parents do not raise them according to Jewish Orthodox faith (28 Sept. 1993). The Ministry of Absorption can initiate procedures to take away a child from his/her parents on grounds that the life of the child is in danger (Ibid.).

According to a representative of the Consulate General of Israel in New York, the Ministry of Absorption would not take away children of mixed parents (Christian father and Jewish mother) because they do not raise them according to Jewish Orthodox faith (27 Sept. 1993). The representative added that some ultra-Orthodox might try to convince new immigrant parents to raise their children according to Orthodox Jewish rules or send them to Orthodox schools (Ibid.). The ultra-Orthodox would talk to the parents on their own initiative, i.e., without any involvement from the Ministry of Absorption (Ibid.).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Consulate General of Israel, New York. 27 September 1993. Telephone interview with representative.

Israel Religions Action Centre (IRAC), Jerusalem. 28 September 1993. Telephone interview with representative.

Society of St-Yves, Jerusalem. 28 September 1993. Telephone interview with representative.