Rabbi Defends Florida’s American Laws for American Courts Bill
During the 2013 Florida Legislature session, Jewish Defense group, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Civil Liberties Union declared that Florida version of American Law for American Courts legislature regarding acceptance of foreign law in certain cases did not recognize Israeli divorces granted Florida residents by Jewish Rabbinic Courts.
Alone among rabbis who contested these arguments was Rabbi Jonathan Hausman, BA, MA and JD, spiritual leader of Ahavath Torah Congregation in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Rabbi Hausman, who holds Orthodox Simcha (Ordination) is conversant in Hebrew and applicable Jewish Law, Halacha. Further because of additional education at the American University in Cairo, he is conversant in Arabic and Islamic Shariah law.
His comments on this issue raised by Jewish defense groups were contained in letters to Florida Legislators and in articles published in both the New English Review and its blog, The Iconoclast. In 2014, the Florida version of American Law for American Courts legislation was re-introduced as Senate Bill 0386 and House Bill 903. In this video interview with Rabbi Hausman addresses:
1. His background and qualifications to address the matter of Recognition of Israeli Rabbinic Court Decrees in Family Law matters.
2. Whether Jewish and Civil Rights groups in Florida who object to SB 0386/HB903: “on acceptance of foreign laws in certain instances” on the grounds that the legislation would bar recognition of Rabbinic Divorce and Custody Decrees under Israel Law.is not correct.
3. Independently research by a Tel Aviv University family law Professor Daphna Hacker that Israel Law recognizes both Rabbinic and Civil Family Law Decisions.
4. How are those Israeli Family Law Decrees are currently recognized under Florida Family Law Practice.
5. How SB0386/HB903 protect religious ecclesiastical law for organized religions?
6. How Jewish Halacha Law differs from other religious Law such as Sharia and how ancient is the Jewish doctrinal basis for recognition of the supremacy of Federal and state of Florida Constitutions.
7. How SB0386/HB903 protects the fundamental Constitutional rights of Floridians, especially women and children?
Watch this Vimeo video of an interview with Rabbi Jonathan Hausman by Jerry Gordon, Senior editor of The New English Review:
EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared on The New English Review.
