Mother Recounts Arranging Daughter's Wedding to Avoid Losing Her

A mother, identified only as Dvora, shared her harrowing experience of facilitating her then-16-year-old daughter's wedding in Yavne'el, fearing she would lose contact with her if she resisted. Dvora discovered her daughter was pregnant about two months after the wedding via a health fund message, as the daughter was still registered under her mother's account due to her age. The situation began when the daughter, at 16, moved in with her father in Yavne'el and was engaged within three months.

Dvora urged her daughter to wait until 18 for a wedding, offering to host a larger celebration then. However, she ultimately acquiesced to the earlier marriage, stating, "I knew if I made a war, I would lose her." The wedding was scheduled for the daughter's 17th birthday.

Dvora described attempts to conceal the ceremony from authorities, with the event being held at home to avoid police detection. She herself called the police to the wedding. "The main and exclusive suspect for calling the police is me," she said, adding that her daughter has since completely ignored her.

To proceed with the religious ceremony without Dvora's presence, the wedding was split, with the "chuppah" (wedding canopy) conducted after Dvora left. Before departing, Dvora hugged her daughter and told her to think of her presence and prayers during the ceremony. Dvora revealed that early marriages in their community are presented as a way to prevent "sins" and control young people's desires, with girls often encouraged to marry as early as 14 or 15.

After six months of silence, Dvora decided to speak out after learning that another young girl in her family circle, aged 15 and a half, had recently become engaged. She felt compelled to protect her own daughter and other girls, believing she was on a mission to safeguard other children.