A Jewish couple in Sweden is fighting for the right to educate their children according to their religious belief, as the international is marking International Holocaust Memorial Day.
Alexander and Leah Namdar, who are the Chabad emissaries in Sweden, are standing trial in the city of Gothenburg , the second largest Swedish city, because they choose to homeschool their children to ensure they receive a traditional and proper Jewish education, as well as all the other subjects prescribed by the national curriculum, but also tp protect their physical safety, which is coming under ever-increasing threat from anti-Semitic attitudes. They make this choice because of the lack of a Jewish school in the city.
Three years ago, the couple was informed that the local municipality had banned them from educating their children at home, having deemed that “there is no need of a law to make possible homeschooling based on the religious or philosophical views of the family”.
The municipality later filed a lawsuit against the Namdars requiring them to send their young children to the local public school.
Aided by Jews from around the world, the couple did not give up and appealed the court decision. Public pressure helped, and they won the case at the Appeal Court.
But despite this ruling, the city continued to mount pressure and submitted another lawsuit that was rejected as well.
The parents face another trial in which judges will address whether the state education law permits the homeschooling of children for religious reasons, or whether Jewish parents will be forced to send their children to public schools.
The Namdar couple claims that the municipality’s motives are anti-Semitic and are all a result of a documentary about them that was aired on Swedish television. The couple emphasizes that "our children receive proper education as well or better than any other Swedish child".
In a reaction, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Director General of the European Jewish Association (EJA) called upon the Swedish authorities to cease all legal proceedings against Rabbi Namdar and his wife."
‘’EU officials have been also updated on this case" , he said, stressing ‘’it is sad and symbolic that on International Holocaust Memorial Day, there is still a need to fight for the right of Jews to educate their children according to their faith. "