An Orthodox Jewish mother of six who was barred from speaking with her own children because she insisted on raising them in a religious home has been thrown in jail because she lacked the financial means to reimburse her wealthy ex-husband $10,000 in court costs as order by an Ohio judge.
Julie Goffstein and her husband Peter Goffstein had been raising their boys as members of the Chabad community in Cincinnati when Peter Goffstein decided that he no longer wanted to live a religious lifestyle. Given an ultimatum of choosing between her religion and her marriage, Julie chose to continue living her life as a Jew and the Goffstein’s bitter divorce began to unfold in 2010. After hearing the testimony of 11 character witnesses and two court ordered evaluations, Judge Jon Sieve of the Hamilton County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas awarded full custody of all of the Goffstein children to their mother, specifically noting the importance of continuity for the boys who had been raised in an Orthodox home.
Nine months later, Peter filed for a reallocation of custody and within weeks Judge Sieve had reversed his decision, awarding Peter full custody of the four younger children, observing that Julie’s insistence on sending the children to yeshiva was not in their best interest. While Judge Sieve’s ruling allowed the children to remain in yeshiva, Julie was held responsible for paying their tuition, with Peter given the authority to make all of the children’s educational decisions. Over time, the situation continued to deteriorate, with Peter filing multiple lawsuits against his former wife and Julie moved with the two older boys to Crown Heights where they continued in yeshiva, while the four younger boys were sent to public school against their will by their father.
As the court battles continued, Peter Goffstein continued to keep the younger children shielded from both their mother and their Jewish heritage, allegedly chopping off one child’s payos, removing the boys’ yarmulkas and making them eat pork. Friends of Julie’s also reported that he smeared urine on one child’s face as a punishment for a religious observance and that Peter repeatedly bullied anyone who supported Julie’s mission of raising her sons in an observant home. Eventually the court forbade Julie from discussing any religious matters with her sons, and she was found in contempt of court for telling one son of her efforts to get him back into yeshiva.
While Peter is extremely wealthy, Julie’s financial situation is very bleak, having been stripped of all marital assets by Judge Sieve. His latest decision, holding Julie in contempt of court for being unable to reimburse her ex-husbands court costs and sending her to jail, seems to be the latest obstacle thrown at Julie simply because she has chosen to raise her sons as practicing members of the Jewish faith. Julie’s sons, ranging in age from nine to eighteen are living a life of turmoil, with the younger boys facing their father’s reported harassment and the two older boys now living alone in Crown Heights because of Julie’s imprisonment.
5 WAYS TO HELP
1. A Chesed Fund campaign has been set up to help raise money for Julie and help with all legal fees and to gain her immediate release. She has been unable to pay her attorney full due to financial challenges.
Click here to help. To donate via paypal: [email protected].
2. A grassroots efforts on Facebook by The Women’s Coalition has been organizing a call in and email campaign asking Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to disqualify Judge Sieve for discrimination and to demand Julie’s release.
3. Other ways to help include pressuring Cincinnati media outlets to cover the story.
4. For Ohio residents to reach out to their elected officials and ask them to advocate for Julie’s release and Judge Sieve’s censure.
5. Those wishing to further help Julie can email Stuart Lichter ([email protected]), president of Industrial Retail Group, where Peter serves as a senior vice president in the Cincinnati office and ask for Peter Goffstein’s removal because of his unacceptable behavior.
Judge O’Connor can be reached at 614-387-9250 or at [email protected]
Sample text to send the judge:
Dear Judge O’Connor,
I am contacting you today to protest the discriminatory treatment of Julie Goffstein by Judge Jon Sieve, an extremely biased judge who threw Julie in jail on July 11th.
Julie has been found in contempt for not paying her ex’s attorney’s fees and for contacting her children and is being forced to pay $10,000 for her wealthy ex’s attorney’s fees, which she does not have because Judge Sieve deprived her of her rightful marital assets. She is also being found in contempt for contacting her children, who he unjustly took away from her, ostensibly due to her religious beliefs—which is unconstitutional. Tellingly, he only took the four youngest boys because the father did not want the two oldest, proving that it is not really about religion; it is about empowering the father. He also ordered Julie to pay $500 to a fathers’ rights group before he was rightfully admonished by you.
Judge Sieve claims that the children have experienced emotional distress due to their mother contacting them, but the real harm to the children was caused by him taking four young boys away from their mother, their primary bond, who was a loving, stay-at-home mom.
There are many other things which confirm Judge Sieve’s bias. Please stop the injustice against Julie by disqualifying him and send a message to other judges and the public that discrimination against women in family courts will not be tolerated.
Thank you
I FEEL JULIE GOFFSTEIN AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DONE A GRAVE INJUSTICE AND JUDGE SIEVE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BENCH.
Have to wonder what made the dad so hostile to Yiddishkeyt..
Especially after having six kids.
I won’t start to go down that road of proving. Im thankful for a few that know in confidentiality and that support me privately.
Yes, she violated a demand that the transfers take place on Shabbos and that she drive them there (or walk 30 miles). She also violated the order that he supervise every communication when a son sought comfort. In the meantime, he never arranged a time for them to see or speak with their mother, despite multiple, multiple requests. If you don’t know the story and don’t have anything nice to say, don’t make up lies and violations.
You can’t show one case where a proven pedophile was allowed custody of the kids against the mothers wishes in a divorce case.
And plenty of pedophile women have retained custody of their kids, in many cases.
BH She’s out and that’s what needed to happen, but seriously? People are crying anti semitism and rediculous accusations of the judge being paid? Hello she violated a court order that had to do with his visitation rights. Sorry but that’s a crime Jewish or not. You can go to jail for that Jewish or not. Believe it or not sometimes Jews aren’t special unique victims
The liberal nowadays is about all kinds of peoples and genders “equal” rights and not in favor of just woman and her role as a motherto the point where if a man wasn’t abusive and involved in taking care of the kids will have split custody. than those men who abused their wife and kids as babies will even be able to have visitation rights. even if a father is a pedophile he has visitation rights . That kind of feminism you’re stating is old fashioned and everyone has rights nowadays even the worst offenders.
It’s a totally false claim to say that men have to upper hand. The country is controlled by leftists who promote the anti male agenda on TV and in the courts and and the rest of the media. There is a much higher rate of depression among boys in public schools because the feminists running everything are teaching that the boys are stupid and inferior to the girls. The boys are doped up with Ritalin and deliberately forced to stop learning so the girls can get ahead. And anytime a man is accused abusing the children he is automatically arrested… Read more »
It appears that Peter has a Mental Health Issue. He fits the description of a Sociopath. It is obvious that the judge is paid off. We have to support Julie and her children both financially and emotionally. The abuse is deep on all levels! Has hem Yeracheim
Most woman who are abused can’t even get out of their situation bec that’s the nature of being abused so when they even do their only focus is on how to escape instead of leaving or calling the police in the right moment when it can be proven. all those situations where men claim woman have the upper hand bec they’re woman is false and made up to cover up their guilt. Not only that abusive men have rights over their kids and even pedophiles can have visitation rights over their kids and you can only wait to take them… Read more »
I am sure the father paid the judge off. Money talks.
I am heartbroken for Julie and hope she is out of jail by now.
She deserves to have custody of her children, she gave birth to them. The judge Jon Sieve deserves to be struck off the roll.
I was foster parent years ago and when the birth mother got her kids back, the judge said they had to continue In the same yeshivas I sent them..
Was happy. I wonder where those kids are today but never forgot that judge
I am #52 I never said anything that you two accuse me of or imply that I said or suggested that you criticize me for supposedly have advocated. I never said or suggested or implied, that the mother in this story did anything wrong for not sending her kids to public school. Nor did I say, suggest or imply that she had no rights to raise her kids according to Torah. I totally agree she is clearly the victim here (based on what we know from this article). All I said in my post was that in general, in so… Read more »
IF THIS POOR WOMAN RECEIVED $100 FOR EVERY MEANINGLESS BLOG POSTED HERE SHE COULD ENOUGH TO BURY THIS MAMZER
In prior rulings she couldn’t put the kids into Day schools because she had no money for tuition. What school administrators wouldn’t let these children i because there was no money? What administrators thought public school was appropriate because she couldn’t pay?
The email I sent was returned to me as “blocked”. I’m Hoping the guy was bombarded with so many emails he had to block them ..
Please post the correct one and the attorney’s email. Thank you.
From the Book of Jewish Law (Yoreh Deah 252) הַמַּעֲלִים עֵינָיו מִפִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים, עוֹבֵר עַל לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת לְבָבְךָ (דְּבָרִים טו, ז). וְעַל לֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת יָדְךָ (דְּבָרִים טו, ז). וְעַל לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל דַּם רֵעֶךָ (וַיִּקְרָא יט, טז). וְעַל לֹא יִרְדֶּנּוּ בְּפֶרֶךְ לְעֵינֶיךָ (וַיִּקְרָא כה, נג). וּבִטֵּל מִצְוַת פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת יָדְךָ לוֹ (דְּבָרִים טו, ח). וּמִצְוַת וְחֵי אָחִיךָ עִמָּךְ (וַיִּקְרָא כה, לו). וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ (וַיִּקְרָא יט, יח). וְהַצֵּל לְקֻחִים לַמָּוֶת (מִשְׁלֵי כד, יא). וְהַרְבֵּה דְּבָרִים כָּאֵלוּ. He who shuts his eyes against the ransoming of captives transgresses the negative precepts, “Thou shalt not harden thy heart”,2 and,… Read more »
The mother had the two oldest in a yeshiva and the 4 youngest in an elementary cheder that even the judge initially agreed on. They don’t yank a child out of his lifestyle and different yeshiva could have been arranged if necessary (still a violation of civil rights). The “judge” also impoverished the mother, even while he granted her custody of the 6 kids, making them live in poverty, despite the marital estate being worth multi-millions. But, no, some will say “nothing to see here.” Not sure if they complain about the world doing nothing from 1939-1945 or why they… Read more »
to #52 . a simple google search stated that she just refused to send the kids to public school!!!!!! Why is it that the mother’s rights are totally not considered here?? My father didn’t get thrown in jail for denying my mother visitiation nor for not paying tuition he was legally required to pay for me.. so why should this woman go to jail for not paying the weathly ex’s legal feels or for contacting her kids??
Would not help here. They were not yet frum when they got married. On the contrary, such a prenup would not have said to raise the kids frum. If anything, it would have said to raise the kids with no religion at all.
For a judge to say “Julie’s insistence on sending the children to yeshiva was not in their best interest”, should send the alarm bells ringing. Their is a constituition that a judge must live by example to be worthy of sitting on the bench. The judicial are not supposed to invoke their religious or anti religious beliefs even in family court. This judge has transgressed the concept on which the United States and its promotion of “Justice for All” is built on. Such a judge has no business near a courtroom and polluting the ideals that this great country stands… Read more »
wow what a story!!!!
Hashem should bench her with additional strength to battle her monster husband and get back all her kids, Amen!
this would NOT happen in a NY courtroom
Finally an intelligent comment on this thread.
I like the idea of the pre-nup, but I do not believe that you can limit the court’s jurisdiction over the children like that, it may be against public policy since the court has continuing jurisdiction to make orders in the best interest of the children.
There is always two side to every story. the kids are the ones that suffer
share this so that it may go viral. Also if at all possible the Jewish ppl need to protect at the Hamilton County Court house. Judge Jon Sieve. But it should be a lg group not a sm group. Need to make a statement. Get attention by news
The poor mother why she has to go to jail for beeing the best she believe for the sake of her 6 children. I am very surprised about the judge to do such outragious judgement to put an innocent mother of 6 in jail because she wants the best education for her children. She should get out from jail and be compensated. The ex husband who has a lot of money should pay all court expenses and children education and maintanance for the wife.
Some of these comments are ridiculous. This story is sad but it is important to remember that every story has two sides. A quick Google search shows that the mother violated the court order when she had full custody by denying the father visitation rights and not enrolling one of the children in school. If the agreement was for the kids to have some sort of secular education, the mother needs to abide by that too. It is highly unlikely that the Judge was paid off. This would be a good addition to any pre-nup. An agreement signed on how… Read more »
Only in the frum world? You sound downright discriminatory…
Also, why insinuate? Civil discourse please
Where is the law guardian? The court is supposed to appoint a lawyer for the children. This person is supposed to interview the children and advocate for their best interests. Any law guardian with half a brain would see that these kids are abused, even if the father has scared them into saying everything is fine. So…where is the law guardian????
#30 Your post is misleading. You say in your last paragraph; “No, there aren’t always “two sides” – in the real world there is most often a powerful perpetrator and a very weak victim. Please keep your worthless comments to yourself.” In this particular case there is a powerful, oppressor and a weak victim. But that does not prove it’s ‘usually’ the case’ at least it’s not true that those who are ‘perceived’ as the ‘weak victim’ are the actual victims, which leads me to; #36 You are wrong. The only reason why this man is getting away with his… Read more »
Name for Tehillim?
No mother should have to fight for her kids, for kids she raised and gave birth to, for what is natural to a mother and than to be thrown in jail for legal mistakes she may have made in that unnatural greuling process.
Hashem should please help Basya Bas Devorah Leah and lead her children’s father to complete teshuva, along with all Jews who may be estranged from Yiddiishkeit.
I just tried to donate and paypal said there was an error, to my memory I’ve never had such a problem. So frustrating how many tens of thousands of dollars are probably being diverted away from this woman, they should investigate this for their losses!
The full names for Teffilah are
Basya Bas Devorah Leah (Julie Goffstein)
The children are Reuven Lazar and
Yaakov Eitan, who live with her and go to yeshiva and miss her and need her now and
Aaron Yosef
Eliyahu Shmuel
Levi Mayer
Aryeh Daniel, who have been cruelly taken from their mother and from everything they hold dear. The oldest of the younger four was subjected to terrible treatment especially for his courage to stand strong.
The childrens names for tefila in order of birth reuvain, yakov, aharon, eli, levi, areye
agree!!! so organize the protests and take out full page ads. Go ahead and do it!!
It will help the case if letter to Judge is improved.
If you and your spouse are committed to Torah at the time of engagement then a pre-nup needs to be made available for couples to sign that all disputes can only be done by a Bet Din no secular courts allowed to decide period!
isn’t that enough abuse by anyone’s standards to take the children away from him straight away? doesn’t that give her more of a case than any money can?
She is an amazing person! And so are her kids!!!!!!
Just wondering how emailing her ex-husbands work will help the situation. If he loses his job, he won’t be able to support the children he has custody of at the moment and will also act more viciously towards her and the kids. Why is this good?
Secondly, I don’t believe it’s the job of shluchim to get heavily involved in cases like these.
I will have this family in mind.
Kenneth Meyer, Esq.
Address: 6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44131
Phone: (216) 241-3900
These children and their Mom have suffered so much. My heart just bleeds for them. I can’t begin to imagine how horrible Julie feels. I’ve known Julie for a few years. I’m pleased to call her a friend. I’m inspired by her faith and determination, which is fueled by her devotion to her children and to Hashem.I love you Julie!
Awful may she has speedy release and vindication!
The ex husbands wealth got him “great” lawyers who used legal loopholes to get her in trouble but that doesn’t make her guilty. in fact if she had those lawyers this mans abuse would be exposed and his consequences would be worse and she would have been better guided not to move out of town for example. Even if she made mistakes it’s obvious he’s an abuser and a man the corrupt system can give power too. When evil wins its a disgrace and the ugly side of humanity. This story proves that men are not little helpless victims when… Read more »
Thsnk you COL for posting this. We must do all we can and pray all we can too.
Very important to spread and demonstrate so that other judges should fear being harassed if they follow suit.
DONE sending email and postign to my fb feed
The civil courts don’t recognize a Jewish child’s spiritual needs.
If u would like to help, help with the money or davening or both ……but seriously commenting on what one person did right or wrong whether we know the details or not is really not our business.
Besuras toivas only
I always hear this disgusting “two sides” argument from the same type of person – the one who sits back and DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help the victim.
No, there aren’t always “two sides” – in the real world there is most often a powerful perpetrator and a very weak victim. Please keep your worthless comments to yourself.
There is so much mental illness in the frum world. I pray that the kids be raised healthy. Then they can have a chance at a normal life.
where are our Jewish hearts? fine money helps letters help but why aren’t we mobilizing and protesting legally in mass in front of the husband’s place of business in front of the judge’s court why don’t we take out full page ads against a bias judge a corrupted system shame him annoy him where it counts lets put tons of pressure on him by targeting his employer his clients etc.
WHat is her full Hebrew name?
To #20, today is Shiva Asar B’Tammuz but point taken.
To #19, mistakes happen. Should she be punished for being slightly naive?
iyh she hears good news soon. This is heartbreaking to read about.
Spread, spread, spread,…if we do enough there’s no way this abusive guy should be allowed to keep the kids
They should have an immediate plan to gather their strength
to support Ms.Goffstein and get her out of jail asap
This is a shame and completely injustice
This father does not care at all for his kids
I think that if there are “many other things” that show bias… the writer should refer to or describe them. And the judge is not discriminating against women per se… he is discriminating against RELIGION. That is illegal, and that point should be stressed. My letter is different but I hope it will help.
I would like to forward the email on to Mrs. Goffstein’s attorney – can you please post the name and address.
My mother was very anti my being religious and threatened my cousin who brought me to yiddishkeit at age 12. I lived alone with her. But since i had gone to bais yakov thru 3rd grade a connection was made and i fought her even was given a facial scar from a beating i was given for going to a pesach seder. At 18 i spoke to the rebbe about it and he told me after rosh hashana it will be ok. I was thinking in front of the rebbe that i would lie to my mother about yiddishkeit and… Read more »
but if the urine thing he did is true, then he should rot in jail for many years. That is child abuse, and despicable
Today being asara b’ teves, it seems like there is something we should be learning from this tragedy that is connected to this day. May the mother and children be reunited and may we all be united in the Bais Hamikdosh with Moshiach now.
If the mother stayed in ohio she risked the judge taking the older kids too. Her mistake was going back to ohio for the court hearing before getting proper legal help. If she stayed in ny she wouldnt be in jail.
This Dad is really bad human, if he can force his children to do all treif things.
Feel genuinely sorry for Mom and the mixed up children.
The advice on what to do is excellent. In this day and age we can use social media to get the word out about unfair cases such as this one. This kind of pressure can work and making people aware is the best thing we can do to help. Thank you for posting this.
G-d Bless My former wife . The divorce went very smoothly. I got every thing I wanted 50 /50 custody
Chabad Yeshiva for all the kids . Liberal visitation
Every thing Besides her Lol .
BS”D What about the Schluchim in Ohio?,where mail a check
I wonder how much that father paid the judge to do what he did?
Please give hebrew names of children involved and mother’s hebrew name for tefilah and to be given at the ohel. Asking at ohel can make a very big difference as can tefila as Hashem can change it all
I was not able to donate. I got an error message
The link to donate is not working. Please update
WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW…just like #1 my case has similarities with the mother running away from Yiddishkeit.
The courts are pretty much useless and selectively and tailor enforcement.
Please pray for these kinderlach and may Hashem bring IMMEDIATE REDEMPTION my heart and thoughts are with them and MS.Goffstien.
MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tried donating the website has a glitch
Agudath Yisroel has a special pro bono (free) legal program which usually helps in these type cases, it was profiled in one of the frum magazines a few years ago This group has affiliated pro bono attorneys working with it throughout the US.
I don’t know either party, but this is not as simple as you make it sound. Why did she move across the country with two kids, splitting up the family? The children’s emotional health – which includes living in close proximity to both parents – is more important than religion. Yes, it is.
My brother went through the same situation when the side had the money I’m sure the judge has been payed money on the side from the husband to give a hard miserable time to the mother and at the end poor kids they r the victims!! Only good news bh!!! My brother son is now 17 he has no contact since he was five!!
Crying…
Yes there is something you can do, never give up! As a product of divorce I can tell you I had a similar experience, my mom was so turned off by religion that she took it away from us. She manipulated the system but my father gave up. Even though he did not have custody over us the fact that he stopped trying was the most hurtful as a child. You may not have custody but never loose that bond even if your child is being raised not frum, she will eventually find her way back like I did. As… Read more »
I can’t imagine the pain she is going through. I sent an email and hope others will too. May Hashem bless her with a complete yeshua and be rightfully reunited with her children.
Contact Schottenstein Trust.They should take care of it. V בהצלחה
Sadly these cases aren’t as rare as we would like. My ex wife, who grew up Chabad and was on Shlichus with me, violated our marriage and then filed for divorce. She is no longer religious and with the court’s blessing took my daughter to the west coast to raise her in a secular way and environment. Sadly, after battling many years, there’s not much else I can do.