“Good people” can be found everywhere – be careful when choosing your friends One of my ex-clients, and actually a good friend as well, wrote this note asking my opinion: Should she send it to her ex-husband? Hello Ploni, It has been brought to my attention (yes people actually called me) that you have mentioned [...]
Family Law
So many times as a lawyer, as a simple citizen and even as a husband I have asked the same question again and again: have I tried everything? Have I given my all to this matter? Have I really done all I could? So why were the results so negative? Why didn’t I succeed in [...]
Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Kotzk once told us: “If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you. But if I am I because you are you and you are you because I am I, then I am not I and [...]
When young Rabbi Eleazar of Koznitz was a guest in the house of Rabbi Naftali of Roptchitz, he once cast a surprised glance at the window, where the curtains had been drawn. When his host asked him the cause of his surprise, he said: “If you want people to look in, then why the curtains? [...]
Introduction: Too many divorces occurs in Israel, too many families are been destroyed and too many people hurt. As I have written in previous articles, most of these divorces could be avoided if the system in Israel would follow a different approach. But not only in the system do we need a drastic change, we [...]
Maturity and Immigration Part of the needed maturity is accepting responsibility and reality. If a person cannot accept life as is he will be in eternal struggle with himself and with the entire world. How many times have you found that you are powerless? You just can’t change reality? If you can’t change reality you [...]
“ג וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אָהַב אֶת-יוֹסֵף מִכָּל-בָּנָיו–כִּי-בֶן-זְקֻנִים הוּא, לוֹ; וְעָשָׂה לוֹ, כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים” “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors” The Torah (Genesis 37:3) tells us about Jacob’s (Israel’s) preference for a certain son named Joseph. We all [...]
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution and many state constitutions as well as state and federal laws protect freedom of speech. However, this “freedom” is not absolute; the United States Supreme Court has recognized several categories of speech that are excluded from this clause. Among these exclusions include the publication of obscenity, child [...]
As a lawyer and a loyal citizen of the State of Israel, I feel responsible and unafraid to confront any topic, including the explosive issue of the judge accused of hitting his children. I imagine that the following statement will be unpopular, but I will state it, nevertheless. I think it is high time that [...]
Introduction: While rewriting history is a well-known phenomenon in cases of failed immigration, this article will deal with rewriting history in a divorce case. The former issue will be addressed in our next article. Definition: On the Idiom Definitions website, the concept of ‘rewriting history’ is defined in the following terms: “If you rewrite history, [...]
The Rabbi of Lelov said to his Hassidim “A man cannot be redeemed until he recognizes the flaws in his soul and tries to mend them. A nation cannot be redeemed until it recognizes the laws in its soul and tries to mend them. Whoever permits no recognition of his flaws, be it man or [...]
The legal question The legal question in case תמ”ש 39157-01-10, presented to Judge Ela Meraz of the Family Law Court in the Haifa district, was: Who has the main obligation to keep in touch with the children after the divorce? The plaintiff (the father) sued his children through their mother, asking the court to cancel [...]
Facebook, like many other social media, has become a major factor in courts worldwide; unfortunately, in Israel too. Slander, lies and personal attacks on others abound – and all for free! As a result, people are becoming increasingly aware and far more careful about how and what they write. Freedom of expression is not by [...]
This article has the potential of becoming an explosive issue and I am sure many of you will have comments; therefore this article is open to any comment you may have. In this article I will try to confine myself mainly to “verbal abuse” but we will have to deal also with a few other [...]
Before you shout me down – I’m thrilled that you have a good marriage and had an easy absorption – this is not about you; it’s about an existing phenomenon in Israel regarding new immigrants. After years spent working with a wide range of new immigrants and Israelis, I can now talk authoritatively about a [...]
Sally and Harry tried everything, but in spite of the fact that for both of them this was a second marriage, they decided to divorce. As often happens, the reason behind their divorce was Sally’s children, who did not want her to be married to anyone else but their biological father – a very common [...]
A Few Facts The sides met each other in 2001; the plaintiff was a dentist by profession and he, the defendant, was a psychologist. They began to live together soon after meeting. During their shared life, they bore a son. The parties then agreed to sign a common-law marriage agreement in 2001, which they upheld [...]
Have you ever heard of a case in Israel where assets are divided unevenly on divorce? The answer is yes and no! Planning Ahead – Prenuptial Agreements Sally and Harry were happily married for 12 years. They loved and respected each other but they both had very different backgrounds. In addition the relationship was not [...]
Sometimes we can’t think otherwise: How many times have you asked yourself: What have I done? How did I cause all these problems? How can I mend it? I suggest you answer these questions by asking yourself a different one. Are you sure it is really about you? You should try looking from a different [...]
Rewriting history and refusing to take responsibility We all know someone who either rewrites history or refuses to take responsibility. These two traits are good friends because they often “work together”. Few of us can deal with people who behave in this way because they are eternally in denial. New immigrants who failed in their [...]
How many of us are in need for a wake-up call? How many times have we heard “you are blind,” “can’t you see what’s going on?” Finding Your “Prince” The famous artist, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475- 1564), an Italian painter, sculptor, architect and engineer, was the creator of the statue of David, which he [...]
The Language Barrier It is supposed to be easy… We should be able to say what we think, and the other side should have no trouble getting the meaning right. Unfortunately, however, “language” can present a barrier for each and every one of us. Any new immigrant knows how hard it sometimes is to get [...]
What is this “ban”? As you have probably already heard, it is legally possible to have a ban or “Tsav Ikuv Ietsia Min Haretz” in Hebrew on any citizen, prohibiting him from leaving Israel. This is one of the most powerful legal tools used in Israel despite the extreme consequences it can have on a [...]
This is true for every new immigrant, for every divorce case or for anyone having difficulties adapting to a new situation, as I will try to demonstrate in this short article. A New Place, A New Life Mira was in her mid-twenties when she made Aliyah – all by herself. She left a big family [...]
What is a Will? A will is just what its name implies, the request of a person (who asks, in the expectation that their wishes will be honored) to those remaining after him, that they will fulfill his last request. Will! A testament is formally one’s statement regarding disposition of his personal property at his [...]
Mrs. Smith appeared in front of the Honorable Judge Mr. Yoram Shaked from the Family Court of Ramat Gan (A.L v’ D.L 32748-01-12, on January 1st, 2012) asking for “protection”, meaning a restraining order prohibiting her husband (the respondent ) to come near her or the house. She claimed that Mr. Smith had attacked her, [...]
The case: After hearing the evidence against the accused, the Honorable Judge Hagay Tarassi of the “Hashalom Court of Netanya”, delivered his decision (The State of Israel versus “Ploni” Tik Plili: 48038-03-10). The verdict (after the defendant had been found guilty by the court): “After hearing the evidence against the accused, convicted of leaving (abandonment [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law This is a true case and it is sad to know that this is just one of many others occurring in Israel today. Many facts were changed to protect the real characters’ identity and privacy. Mrs. White: In the 10 years since coming to Israel Mrs. White has not [...]
I am going to address an issue here that does not garner popularity among most of us and that many good people with divergent opinions will have a hard time swallowing but it is all true: People, it is time for a wake-up call! I urge you all to join me and many of the [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law Introduction This is not an academic essay nor is it an attempt to prevent second marriages. This is meant to be a helpful essay presenting all of the facts that surround the legal and psychological aspects of a second marriage. This will probably seem polemic but it is still [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law More and more people are living longer but not necessarily a better or healthier life. The mental health of those being kept alive by machines or medication is a very delicate situation. More and more “mentally unfit” people are in need of a legal guardian or as it is [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law Who has Custody of the Children? Background: Mr. and Mrs. Smith lived together for 13 years, had two children together, but never actually married each other. After 13 years they decided to separate. As a result, the “wife” sued the “husband” asking for custody of their two children. After [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law What’s wrong? Mr. Doe called me asking for legal advice. His first question was: “Do you charge for your services”? I responded: “No, we don’t charge for legal aid but we will charge if you need legal representation”. Mr. Doe became defensive wanting to know the difference. Instead of [...]
by Ronen Simon, Attorney at Law at Szajnbrum’s Law Offices As opposed to other matters of divorce such as the division of property, maintenance, child support, etc. and in accordance with the current laws of Israel, the sole authority to grant a divorce verdict (“Get”) between Jews is the Rabbinical Courts according to the Jewish [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law In order to be allowed to divorce (“Get“) in the Rabbinic Court one must have a “legal/”Halahic” reason or pretext. A wish to divorce is not enough – not for a woman and not for a man. In this article we will deal not only with the list of [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law If your parents helped you to purchase Real Estate when you got married, watch out, because in case of a divorce (yours), your folks may sue you for that “gift” they gave you. Many parents do help their kids to purchase the dream house they want to buy when [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law On November 20th, 2011, the Israeli Parliament approved a new bill/rule (“takana“) regarding the participation of children in Family Court Procedures. The bill 258 is from the Civil Rule Proceedings (“Takanot Seder HaDin HaEzrachi“). These new rules will work as a “pilot” project in two different courts and at [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law The question to be decided by the Labor Court was under what circumstances a woman can be granted Pension Benefits (Survivors’ Pension or “Kitzvat She’erim” in Hebrew) for a deceased husband as granted by the fund in spite of the fact that they were not living together for the [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law How can a jail cell be a good place for anyone? Of course it is not; but this is where those refusing to give their wife their “GET” (the term Ge’t in Hebrew is from “G’mar Tov”) can be sent by the legal system (The Rabbinical Court or the [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law This is no easy task. When a Judge in Israel decides to rule against the opinion of the designated social worker working on a case, this is news in Israel. This was the case decided by the Honorable Judge, Mr. Asaf Zagury from the family court on October 11th [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law The first “protocol” or “Pratikol” regards how to behave in court: Attending Court is not a social function, but a serious occasion! Sometimes it can even be a “traumatic” experience. Young children should not accompany you and the less people you bring with you the better. The security is [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law Breaching the promise of marriage can be an expensive decision as the case that was decided before the Honorable Judge Mrs. Irit Cohen in the Jerusalem Court May 29, 2011 proved. Mike and Carol (not their real names) met in 2006. Soon after that, they moved in together and [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law I could make this article extremely short by saying that this legal document is more like a poor and pathetic summary of what was said in court and nothing else. The expectations a new immigrant has concerning court proceedings are fair but unrealistic. My goal is to lower the [...]
Asking for Help We all know someone that went through a divorce, and we have all heard stories about divorces, but fortunately only a small percentage of us have gone through a divorce. Nevertheless we should be aware that most of the time, money makes all the difference. Lawyers use the money issue as a [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law Introduction: This article will not cover all aspects of divorce. But here you will find most of the answers you need, at least for first aid. This document was prepared with different purposes in mind and will introduce most aspects of divorce between Jews and non-Jews; but the emphasis [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law Travesty of Law – The Ten Commandments: A True Case The Smiths were what we call a “blended family” composed of a mother, a step-father and seven children from the mother. The couple had no mutual children. Mrs. Smith, previously Mrs. Brown, was married to Mr. Brown for 15 [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law We all believe in children’s right don’t we? We are all in favor of giving children the protection they need and deserve, aren’t we? This is the first in a series of surely controversial articles concerning what you may regard as children’s rights. Keep reading because you may change [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law Jenny was happily married to David. They moved from one state to another in the US due to David’s job and they actually succeeded in amassing a small fortune. When they were in their mid- 30’s, they decided to move to Israel with their three children. David came from [...]
by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law The most important rule a father should remember is that no child should have to seek “employment” or “take loans” in order to support himself. If a divorced father cannot pay his alimony, he will find out very fast how serious his problem is. Of course it could be [...]
Denying a Divorce can cost more than you imagine by Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law The Honorable Judge Mr. Itai Katz from the Family Court in Jerusalem decided on May 26, 2010 in favor of the husband as follows: The Claim: - Damages in the form of monetary compensation in the amount of One Million [...]