Rabbinical Courts - What Really Happened
In Israel, the rabbinical courts act as a private arbiter in certain civil matters, IF BOTH PARTIES AGREE to use the rabbinical court instead of the secular court.
Both parties have to agree, in writing, and then the rabbinical court conducts the arbitration. When the decision is reached, the secular courts are obligated to uphold the decision, just as courts in the U.S. will uphold arbitration decisions in civil matters.
Regarding the news article in question:
The woman was going through a divorce, and she and her husband agreed, voluntarily, to use a rabbinical court as the divorce arbiter.
During the divorce proceedings, which covered things like child custody, and child welfare, the issue of circumcision was raised. The rabbinical court dealt with it accordingly, as it was part of the child custody issues, and then they assessed a ruling and a fine. The secular court now has to uphold that arbitration decision, unless there is an appeal... and it is legal to appeal an arbitration ruling.
This was another hyped up non-story:
There was no "theocratic tyranny" foisted upon anyone.
Two people CHOSE to use a religious 3rd party arbiter, to handle their divorce proceedings.
The religious arbiter judged things from a religious point of view, just as both people expected.
End of story.
If the woman is genuinely upset, she can appeal.
This is really another non-story sensationalized by the media.
It happens all the time.
JimJimmers,
You had no way to know this was all hyped up, so good catch.
It's all been sensationalized, but it's still a very interesting story.