This is the story that Sparrow was speaking of last night in the other thread....
A former Hasidic Orthodox Jew is has served notice of an intention to sue the provincial government in Quebec saying it failed to enforce education requirements leaving him virtually illiterate and unemployable.
British-born Yonanan Lowen, now 36, came to Canada at age 10 where attended two still-operating illegal haredi Tosh yeshivas north of Montreal and spoke only in Yiddish.
He intends to sue the government for over $1 million dollars saying he was never taught to read or write English or French or the public school curriculum as the law requires.
He says he only began to learn his “A-B-C’s” at age 29. Lowen left the orthodox community in 2010, moving from the suburbs of Montreal into the city but says his lack of education has left him with virtually no potential for a real future in society.
He said the Quebec government is to blame for letting that happen, and that other children in the orthodos jewish community are in the same situation.
He notes his lack of employability is also affecting his family of several children after an arranged marriage at age 18.
Although he now teaches a few hours each week at a synagogue, Lowen says he suffers from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
There could be further legal action if others come forward, according to Julien Pelletier, the executive director of the legal clinic Juripop
He noted the Lowen’s legal notice to the education ministry, youth protection, the school boards involved and the Quebec provincial ministry could become a class-action suit if others come forward.
Quebec’s education minister would not comment saying the issue could end up in the courts.
Orthodox Jew sues Quebec government for a lack of education
oh, oh, what to do?
A former Hasidic Orthodox Jew is has served notice of an intention to sue the provincial government in Quebec saying it failed to enforce education requirements leaving him virtually illiterate and unemployable.
British-born Yonanan Lowen, now 36, came to Canada at age 10 where attended two still-operating illegal haredi Tosh yeshivas north of Montreal and spoke only in Yiddish.
He intends to sue the government for over $1 million dollars saying he was never taught to read or write English or French or the public school curriculum as the law requires.
He says he only began to learn his “A-B-C’s” at age 29. Lowen left the orthodox community in 2010, moving from the suburbs of Montreal into the city but says his lack of education has left him with virtually no potential for a real future in society.
He said the Quebec government is to blame for letting that happen, and that other children in the orthodos jewish community are in the same situation.
He notes his lack of employability is also affecting his family of several children after an arranged marriage at age 18.
Although he now teaches a few hours each week at a synagogue, Lowen says he suffers from depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.
There could be further legal action if others come forward, according to Julien Pelletier, the executive director of the legal clinic Juripop
He noted the Lowen’s legal notice to the education ministry, youth protection, the school boards involved and the Quebec provincial ministry could become a class-action suit if others come forward.
Quebec’s education minister would not comment saying the issue could end up in the courts.
Orthodox Jew sues Quebec government for a lack of education
oh, oh, what to do?
