Mother Recounts Daughter's Wedding Interrupted by Police, Then Proceeded Without Her
A Knesset committee discussing the issue of underage marriage heard testimony from a mother whose 17-year-old daughter was married in the town of Yavniel. The mother, Dvorah, 42, from Bnei Brak, presented police documentation of the wedding ceremony. She explained that after she left the venue, the wedding proceeded without her, and her daughter became pregnant approximately two months later, a fact she did not initially disclose.
Dvorah recounted that her ex-husband remarried shortly after their divorce and moved to Yavniel with his new wife. Her daughter moved in with them at age 16 and within three months was betrothed to a man three years her senior. The daughter expressed distress about the match in a letter to a rabbi, seeking guidance, but was subsequently re-engaged to the same individual. The wedding was scheduled for her 17th birthday.
On the wedding day, as the ceremony began, police entered the home, leading to hours of questioning. Dvorah stated she was accused of calling the police. Upon returning to Yavniel, she felt completely ignored by her daughter and family. The wedding ceremony continued without her presence.
She further revealed that her daughter became pregnant about two months after the wedding, only learning about it three months into the pregnancy through a health fund notification, as her daughter was still a minor. The daughter has barely spoken to her since. Dvorah criticized the police and prosecution, stating that even excellent police work is futile if no indictments are filed. She also criticized social services for returning her daughter home when she lied about not getting married.
Sara Bolotin, a former resident of Yavniel who campaigns against the phenomenon, expressed empathy for the young people involved but vowed to continue her efforts, citing the harmful patterns in the community. Committee chairwoman MK Merav Cohen emphasized that this situation represents only the "tip of the iceberg" and highlighted the need to address the "mechanism of silence" involving various community figures. Cohen also criticized the head of the Yavniel local council for boycotting the committee meeting and for honoring an individual who allegedly encourages underage marriages, noting the council head's own attendance at underage wedding celebrations.
