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The British leaders of a major Chasidic sect have declared that women should not be allowed to drive.

 In a letter sent out last week, Belz rabbis said that having female drivers goes against "the traditional rules of modesty in our camp" and against the norms of Chasidic institutions.

 

It added that, from August, children would be barred from their schools if their mothers drove them there.

 

According to the letter — which was signed by leaders from Belz educational institutions and endorsed by the group's rabbis — there has been an increased incidence of "mothers of pupils who have started to drive" which has led to "great resentment among parents of pupils of our institutions".

They said that the Belzer Rebbe in Israel, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, has advised them to introduce a policy of not allowing pupils to come to their schools if their mothers drive.

 

Dina Brawer, UK Ambassador of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, said that "the instinct behind such a draconian ban is one of power and control, of men over women. In this sense it is no different from the driving ban on women in Saudi Arabia. That it masquerades as a halachic imperative is shameful and disturbing."

 

While many Chasidic women do not drive, this is thought to be the first formal declaration against the practice in the UK.

 

In response to coverage of the story, the local Belz's women's organisation Neshei Belz issued a statement to say that they felt "extremely privileged and valued to be part of a community where the highest standards of refinement, morality and dignity are respected. We believe that driving a vehicle is a high pressured activity where our values may be compromised by exposure to selfishness, road-rage, bad language and other inappropriate behaviour."

 

They added,"We do, however, understand that there are many who conduct lifestyles that are different to ours, and we do not, in any way, disrespect them or the decisions they make."

 

One Stamford Hill rabbi said that it had "always been regarded in Chasidic circles as not the done thing for a lady to drive".

 

But although some Chasidic sects discourage women from driving, others such as Lubavitch have no such policy. The wives of some senior non-Chasidic strictly Orthodox rabbis drive.

 

One local woman said that the policy "disables women. The more kids they have, the more they need to drive." But she believed that some women would take no notice of the policy. "They say one thing, they do another," she said.

 

The Belz, who originated in Ukraine in the early 18th century, are one of the most prominent Chasidic sects and re-established their headquarters in Israel after the war. When the Belzer Rebbe celebrated the wedding of a grandson in Israel two years ago, some 25,000 guests attended.

 

Compared with some of the most conservative Chasidic sects, Belz are seen as relatively moderate and while some Charedi schools in London have struggled with inspections, both their main boys and girls schools, Talmud Torah Machzikei Hadass and Beis Malka, are rated "good" by Ofsted.

 

Inspectors at Machzikei Hadass noted last year that there was a "very effective British values policy, and display throughout the school demonstrates the high priority that the school puts into this important area".