Julie Goffstein, an Orthodox Jewish mother of 6 who garnered support from around the world after being thrown in jail by an Ohio judge, has been released.
Goffstein thanked everyone who advocated for her, “sent me messages, screamed like heck to get me relief, and defended my name. I’m forever grateful,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Goffstein was barred from speaking with her own children because she insisted on raising them in a religious home, and was thrown in jail because she lacked the financial means to reimburse her wealthy ex-husband $10,000 in court costs as ordered by Ohio Judge Jon Sieve.
The plight of the Orthodox mother of 6 was reported on COLlive.com in a story which was widely read and shared. Many contacted the judge on Goffstein’s behalf.
A Chesed fund set up to assist Goffstein in obtaining the funds necessary for her release raised $15,639 by Thursday morning.
Goffstein thanked all those who called the Chief Justice of Ohio, saying that her office was bombarded with phone calls.
“Thank you to all of those who really, really went to bat for me. So many people did and I’m extremely appreciative touched and feel blessed,” Goffstein said.
Organizers of the fundraising campaign say that funds and help are still very much needed to help bring her boys home to their mother.
“Her attorney wants the case moved out of Ohio, as Judge Sieve has a long-time bias against her, which is court documented,” they said.
According to Goffstein’s lawyer, she is now working on having the case moved to either Julie Goffstein’s place of residence, New York or Peter Goffstein’s place of residence, in Florida, hoping to attain a new judge “who has less of a bias towards religion,” she said. “Funds are still very much needed, and any one who feels they can help please email [email protected].”
I myselft am a single mother raising six kids . I so can understand her anguish and pain, maybe even not, because I am not in her place. But I feel for her so much!!
May we have an end to all our tzoris in galus. Moshiach Now!!
Thank you to all who contributed financially. That’s half of it. Difficult times ahead to come. Let’s all keep this family in our daily prayers.
this is the best news COL has put out, BH ten times
Your suggestion she should get together with a man for the sake of the children who throws their mother in jail is unimaginable.
The visitation rights were for the kids to spend every other shabbat and half the yom tovim with the father. That meant the kids could only observe half the yom tovim and every other shabbat besides not being allowed kosher food. Also the mother was supposed to put the youngest child in public school. The father is very anti religious
What a shame that the family fell apart…..maybe funds can go towards help in saving their marriage and the kids future. Raising six kids close in age is not easy especially if they are all boys….help and support for the mom and dad as parents and as a couple is crucial. Now things are really rough but hopefully they can work things out….just for the sake of these gorgeous children and their happiness!
#1 Did not say anything about two wrongs making a right.
The first Collive article, on this story had comments that claimed that men don’t suffer from such things and that ‘all men are powerful who always get what they want, in divorces” and that even men who are pedophiles get custody of the kids.
So #1 (and others) simply pointed out that plenty of men suffer from such situations, where the woman has the upper hand.
Thgat has nothing to do with saying ‘two wrongs make a right’, which #1 did not say.
and getting her released.
Too bad it doesn’t seem to work with Rubaskin….
May your Yeshua salvation & healing happen fast
You’re glad this woman is freed but her ex said what those men you speak of say, that she denied court ordered visitation and he was paying child support ,so there’s always more to it than that.
Terrible for a mother to be thrown in jail and fighting to see her own kids, nothing justifies this especially an unjust system
A man according to the law only has to pay child support around a quarter of what he earns. and has visitation rights. This is so standard even for abusive men that he wouldn’t need a fancy lawyer to have that basic right, especially if he’s paying huge sums of child support.
You are so right!!!!
I know myself a story of a men that can’t see his kids.
Because lack of money to pay the lawyers.
Thank you COL for being the true lead voice on this issue.
It must be noted that Julie Goffstein, Basya bas Devorah Leah, would have chas vsholom spent all those days in jail RL if it meant getting back her kids. Now the real fight begins. To reunite the family and save the kids.
SO HAPPY …
So happy. I called the judge office yesterday
Good
She is out but she still cannot see her kids and needs a lot of help to win the court case.. she still needs funds desperately.
this is truly inspiring! This is what happens with jews we help them bc ou neshama is crying out for that person!
I agree with the first comment about men having to deal with the same situation. Baruch Hashem she is out!
BH. So great (and too rare)when Emes wins !!
Against religious Jews. See any pattern?
you are right
but two wrongs dont make a right
you should begin to write about it with specific true examples without writing names
but it is a crazy situation for one too many men and one too many women
Moshiach NOW
Chasdei HaShem. May she and her beautiful Family be GeBentsched MIT Brachos und Simchos.
Boruch Hashem
While I am glad and relieved for this woman that she was helped by the worldwide Jewish community…I am left wondering where is the outcry when similar stories happen to men…do you know how many men have to sit in jail for the same reasoning…have their children alienated from them and still expected to pay huge sums of child support etc…where is the outcry then?