Just that you know, his father is not dead yet!
It's hard to grasp, but Lonna has been an aguna for 18 years - chained against her will to a man who has, himself, remarried, while her life is at a standstill until he releases her.
What will happen to women of our Jewish world whose freedom depends on the mercy of the wicked?
Lonna's father-in-law's days are numbered, and he wants to be buried in Israel. Today, Lonna and her attorney Daniel Schwartz petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to prevent his eventual burial here in an effort to pressure his son – Lonna's recalcitrant, get-abusing husband - to finally grant Lonna her freedom.
Advocates from OTS's Yad La'isha Legal Aid Center for Agunot stood with Lonna at the court today as amicus curiae - an organization approved by the court to assist the judges by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case.
Will the State of Israel answer Lonna's pleas and allow this desperate sanction to be imposed in the hope that it will take effect? Yad L'aisha hopes so. The Jewish and democratic state must take responsibility and take responsibility for the agunot in its midst.
Do we like the idea? Of course not. But there is no choice but to put the living before the dead. After all, if the Supreme Court rules in favor of delaying the burial, it is not Lonna who will be ultimately responsible, nor the State of Israel – but rather, his own son. The keys are in his hands; the moment he gives Lonna the divorce, the burial will proceed without event.
יד לאישה, עזרה למסורבות גט ועגונות-Yad Lai
This morning Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll joined well over a dozen supporters in addition to the legal representation of Lonna Ralbag (Kin) & יד לאישה, עזרה למסורבות גט ועגונות-Yad Laisha at the Supreme Court to request that the State refuse the burial of the men who has supported his son in refusing to give Lonna Get for over 18 years .
Not only is there an excommunication decree against Meir himself but also his family for their support of his abuse.
Stunningly however, the community of chabad in LA still allows him not only to daven in shul but to also be called to the Torah.
The court has given the State rabbanut a few months to decide to uphold this excommunication decree.
So now it is in the hands of the rabbinic committee.
However, it is our job to put pressure on the abuser and his family wherever they are to stop their abuse of Lonna and halacha.
If you're interested in helping, DM your email and city