Jerusalem Court Grants Rare Debt Relief to Hardship-Stricken Widow

A Jerusalem Magistrate's Court has granted a rare economic rehabilitation plan to a 65-year-old widow and mother of four, one of whom has cancer, who accumulated over 1 million shekels in debt. Judge David Shaul Gabai Richter ruled that she will receive a discharge of her debts in exchange for paying only 21,600 shekels, spread over 36 monthly installments of 600 shekels. Crucially, her severance pay and study fund savings will remain with her.

The woman, who lives in public housing, described a life of extreme hardship, growing up in a disadvantaged family with a mentally ill mother and siblings with Down syndrome. After leaving home, she married a drug addict, making a normal life difficult. Tragedy compounded when one of her children was diagnosed with cancer. Her debts, she explained, are approximately 40 years old, stemming from her marriage to her addicted husband and were incurred for basic living expenses.

Represented by attorney Bat-El Ozri, she pleaded in court, "What is my sin? That I wanted to raise four children? Give me some air to live. I want to wake up in the morning and be free." She works cleaning jobs starting at 5 a.m. daily and struggles to afford even gifts for her grandchildren, citing depression, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Her difficult circumstances were corroborated by testimonies from close associates. Her son described her sacrificing "body and soul" to feed her children, whose diet often consisted of little more than bread, cheese, and milk. Her employer called her a "modern-day Job," emphasizing that her debts were for essential needs like formula, not luxuries.

The supervisor of insolvency, represented by attorney Liat Tuvia, initially proposed a repayment plan of 30,600 shekels over three years but was hesitant to allow her to keep her study fund. The trustee, attorney Shimon Uri, suggested confiscating her financial assets and extending the repayment period to four years.

However, Judge Gabai Richter deviated from these proposals, establishing a more lenient repayment plan and allowing her to retain her severance pay, pension fund, and other compensation. "Sometimes, what the paper can bear, the heart cannot bear," the judge wrote, acknowledging her lifelong struggle to raise her children and cover basic needs. He concluded by wishing her "a long life, quality of life, health, and joy."