Education

Swedish Officials Threaten to Fine Jewish Parents $2,400 Per Week for Homeschooling Kids

In Sweden, homeschooling is severely frowned upon. In fact, unless there’s a viable reason, it is virtually impossible for parents to educate their children at home. Now, Chabad-Lubavitch (Jewish) emissaries to Sweden have been threatened by city officials with thousands of dollars in fines for homeschooling their kids, according to the Israeli news outlet Arutz Sheva 7. Instead, the local government in the city of Gothenburg is reportedly attempting to force the family to utilize the public school system.

School authorities came to the home of Rabbi Alexander Namdar and his wife Leah on Jan. 26 to serve the family with a notice, reports say. Four of the couple’s children are currently studying online at an international school. If the family does not comply and immediately begin to send them to government-run educational facilities, they will be fined the U.S. equivalent of $2,400 per week.

Rabbi Alexander Namdar & His Wife May Be Fined for Homeschooling Children

Rabbi Alexander Namdar and his wife Leah (Lubavitch.com)

Homeschooling is virtually banned in the country, where it takes an “extraordinary” situation (illness, among others) to allow for the government to permit it. Religious reasons are not considered valid cause for homeschooling.

These regulations are bizarre to Americans, who have the freedom to educate their children at home, should they choose. In the case of the Namdar family, the case is especially odd, considering that the quality of the children’s education (a factor of consideration that likely contributes to the ban), as Arutz Sheva 7 notes, is stellar:

The children’s education is not lacking by any means — and they are not the first in the family to have been educated at home. Six of the family’s 11 children also learned at home in their early years, and now live and study abroad at Jewish high schools, teaching seminaries and rabbinic colleges. All are pursuing careers in education.

Lubavitch.com has more about the children’s studies:

At their individual computers from 8:00 each morning to 1:15, five days a week, the children must master a full schedule of Judaic studies including proficiency in Hebrew. The afternoon is dedicated to English, Swedish, mathematics, geography, science, music, art, and gymnastics. All the children speak English, Swedish, and Yiddish fluently. They can read Hebrew by age 4 or 5, like other Orthodox Jewish children.

Their extra-curricular activities include community work with regular visits to the elderly, helping out with the Sunday Hebrew school classes for other Jewish children taught by their parents, and other educational activities. The online school also ensures the children benefit from a healthy social experience.

“We’re two parents fighting city hall for the right to give our children a Jewish education,” Leah said.

Her husband echoed this sentiment.

“This is a stain on the reputation of a country that takes pride in equality as a fundamental value,” Rabbi Namdar added.

The family’s lawyer, Richard Backenroth, is fighting back and appealing both the demand that they attend public school and the associated fine. According to Backenroth, this case will be extremely important to determining the nation’s commitment to religious freedom.

Aside from the fact that the family believes it should have the right to send its children where it so chooses, there is concern that anti-Semitism could be on the rise in Sweden. Even if this isn’t the case, the Namdar children are the only Orthodox kids in the city. To send them to a public school, Backenroth warns, could mean exposing them to a great deal of bullying and harassment.

The family is prepared, though, to face what they say could become ”the last battle against Communism,” as they fight to educate their children in the way they so choose.

(H/T: IsraelNewsNow.com)

Comments (114)

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  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:56pm

    This is nothing more than an attack on Judism.. If I were this family I would pack my bags and head for Israel! This could very well happen here.. that way they can corrupt all children! We must make sure when we vote out Obama that we request that all school books with liberal leanings and bald face lies be removed and replaced with what school is really all bout. I wish this family well!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • 777jenn
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:21pm

      The govt will get THIS homeschooling Mom’s “fine” $$$….after I tell them, “COME & GET IT”.

      Report Post » 777jenn  
    • cessna152
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:26pm

      You’re right. Our school system tried to sneak “That’s a family” (pro gay) video to third graders. All three of our kids were pulled out of the public school system 5 years ago. My son will be graduating in a year, daughter (oldest) is done school and our youngest entering 9th grade. I will do everything to keep them out of the brainwashing of these Nazis. Also, I told my son these are the ten or so schools I will help pay for…other than that you’re on your own. I will not give my money to people or entities that plan to destroy me. Would you send blank checks to Al Queda?

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • disenlightened
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:07pm

      Just how is the socialist, multicultural, cowardly Swedish government supposed to brainwash and indoctrinate every child in the country if some children are being home-schooled? Why, these Jews act like they own their own kids. That’s just not fair to liberals in Sweden. They must have access to and control of everyone’s children. Except for the Muslims, of course. They get their own schools. And welfare checks.

      Report Post » disenlightened  
    • starman70
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:30pm

      WATCH OUT! Coming to America soon.

      Report Post »  
    • asybot12
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 6:20pm

      hey abbeygirl I could not agree more, with my advice the same .Get the hell out of Sweden witch at one time was considered a free country but where would they go?. Even up here in Canada the rules are changing and the US does not look at all safe any more. maybe we should all move to the pacific islands or something.

      Report Post »  
    • majasdad
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:12pm

      @ Abbygirl
      Oh yeah? And what, pray tell, is school really about?
      Seriously though, don’t be an idiot. What complete and utter hogwash. I can’t believe how you even seem to take pride in your total lack of knowledge of the issue and gladly engage in pure speculation that has nothing to do with facts. Any family, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist etc. risks being fined if they keep their kids out of school. By Swedish law, kids have to go to school, that’s all there is to it. Implying this is proof of anti-Semitism on a government level is just so absurd.

      Report Post »  
    • The Jewish Avenger
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:01pm

      I would tell our district, “Sure, lets match up age or school grades and see which school is doing better.” LOL

      HINT : In my kids school, an 84 is a failing grade and here’s the catch, they only go to school 4 days a week and see and do things that makes these libs stomp out in frustration… Me = extremely proud. Keep your pubic schools (yes, public) I removed my kids out after this kind of day:

      1.) Police removed three kids from the bus for smoking pot and give a 1st grader a bloody nose
      2.) Children bullied by gangs of welfare brats due to the fact that they have learned that they can do ANYTHING and the worst they will get is moderating or counseling.
      3.) They announced to me that they decided that one of my kids was retarded. Not only was the child unable to read but she couldn‘t recite her ABC’s (Then handed me some paper about some federal program tore it up, thanked them for their time and effort and never went back) (I truly felt that she was the Dobson’s version of a late bloomer but you know schools… at this age be there, or else…)
      4.) Did I mention transgender using girls rm?
      THREE MONTHS LATER my “retarded” labeled child read to me Green Eggs and Ham, (Framed it and put it on my wall… go figure right? LOL It was a proud moment!!!) The other kids, without the threats and concerned over who has the best labeled torn jeans and biggest billboard on their butt sweats, my kids dress up everyday and are particularly of it and I love it.

      Report Post » The Jewish Avenger  
    • FoxholeAtheist
      Posted on February 7, 2012 at 9:35am

      No, this isn’t an attack on Judaism, this is a family wanting special rights. You people constantly complain about others who move into a country and then want to either change that particular system or just not comply altogether. That, in essence, are what these people are doing.

      I am fully in agreement; if you don’t like it, move somewhere else.

      Report Post » FoxholeAtheist  
    • FoxholeAtheist
      Posted on February 7, 2012 at 9:46am

      You people are comaring Swedish schools to American schools. That is not the case. If ever a school system should be modeled, it is this system. This couple ought to be grateful that their children get to go to a Swedish school in the first place. What else did this couple produce on their own? More indoctrinated sheeple. Their children are reading by age 4 or 5? Big deal. So was I. Bullied? Maybe, maybe no. If they don’t learn to deal with it now, they will never learn to deal with it. Weak sauce.

      Report Post » FoxholeAtheist  
    • RedDawn2012
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:14am

      Foxholeatheist: you’d have been a perfect Nazi. The way the world is turning, you may yet get your chance.

      Report Post » RedDawn2012  
  • shogun459
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:52pm

    To Control a Nation, Control its Children.
    Coming soon to the US.
    Remember the “We Love Obama” song we saw the NEA teacher leading the kids in?
    Wait till your own kids no longer have a choice, and You won’t have any choices either.

    Report Post » shogun459  
  • OklahomaBound
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:51pm

    “Homeschooling is virtually banned in the country, where it takes an “extraordinary” situation (illness, among others) to allow for the government to permit it. Religious reasons are not considered valid cause for homeschooling.”

    Apparently wishing to keep their kids from being indoctrinated into socialism/collectivism is not on the list of exceptions to attending the public propaganda centers known as schools. This story may be about Sweden, but there have been plenty of attempts by the commies in our government and their front line soldiers posing as teachers to stop alternatives to kids attending the indoctrination centers here in the US too. The communist have infiltrated every level of our society to destroy the last beacon of freedom on Earth; schools, all levels of government, churches, regulatory agencies, even our military and social type groups like Girl Scouts have been infiltrated. Make no mistake about it, they have grown their numbers through the indoctrination of our youth and in the end either we who still know of and embrace Liberty will give up and become enslaved or we will fight in the streets. I will die free so you know which route I will choose, which will you choose?

    Report Post » OklahomaBound  
  • qzak491
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:48pm

    Do they have synagogs ( I ain’t sure about that spelling) in Sweeden, send the kids there and they won’t be home.

    Report Post »  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:35pm

    Was Leif Errikson a public school kid? Just askin…

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:31pm

    The fear for the Swedish government is that these children will not be properly indoctrinated into the PC version of Swedish social liberalism. Which is exactly why this family is home schooling. It works just fine here.

    Report Post » dmerwin  
    • shogun459
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:04pm

      On the other hand it is a very small country and you are required to have gun.
      The people are the army.
      This is probably the largest setting that socialism works and it still takes HUGE money to maintain it.

      Report Post » shogun459  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:14pm

      @ Shogun
      The story is about Sweden, not Switzerland.

      Report Post »  
    • RagingJudge
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:21pm

      Indeed, don’t confuse Sweden and Switzerland. Those mountains are mighty convenient for Swittzerland, Sweden’s nothing but coastline.

      Switzerland has it MADE on foreign policy, man.

      Report Post » RagingJudge  
    • RedDawn2012
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:21am

      Unfortunately, Switzerland has recently removed all those machine guns from the homes of their citizen soldiers. This may be just another offering to the EU/UN to stay in their graces. The Swiss were essentially forced to join the UN some years ago, and they will soon enough be forced to join the EU. Sad, but true.

      Report Post » RedDawn2012  
  • Endstatism
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:26pm

    I think its time to paint the Swedish government, at least the Gothenburg officials as anti Semite and bigots. Now if this was a Muslim imam and his wife teaching their kids at home, I doubt their government would have raised a issue.

    Report Post » Endstatism  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:46pm

      Not a WORD would be said if the religion was islam.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • honestynow
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:53pm

      Agreed. Rapes are rampant now due to muslim immigrants, yet nary a word on that.

      Report Post »  
    • ReynMansson
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:48pm

      Schooling was made obligatory for all children in Sweden in 1842. It is paid for by taxes, both public and private. In Sweden, pupils are free to choose a private school and the private school gets paid the same amount as municipal schools. There are 9 Muslim schools and 3 Jewish ones. Homeschooling is not allowed for anyone unless you can’t move.

      Report Post » ReynMansson  
    • majasdad
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 6:53pm

      @Endstatism
      What complete and utter hogwash. I can’t believe how you even seem to take pride in your total lack of knowledge of the issue and gladly engage in pure speculation that has nothing to do with facts. Any family, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist etc. risks being fined if they keep their kids out of school. By Swedish law, kids have to go to school, that’s all there is to it. Implying this is proof of anti-Semitism on a government level is just so absurd.

      Report Post »  
  • Fipper
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:19pm

    The Swedes are oh so “progressive”. That is what happens in a country governed by Socialism and represents itself as above all the rest.

    Report Post »  
    • majasdad
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:06pm

      @Fipper
      Oh God, another jerk who can’t be bothered to check his facts before blurting out bologna (or baloney for you illiterate Blaze fans out there). Sweden hasn’t had a “Socialist” government since 2006, and even then it was a Social Democrat government which was just a tad left of center. The prime minister for the past six years has been Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the conservative Moderate party. Check your facts fool.

      Report Post »  
    • RedDawn2012
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:51am

      I spent three months in Stockholm years before Sweden was “integrated” by the Muslim “refugees” from Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Somalia. Even then Sweden was not the utopian paradise they like to pretend. Compared to the USA, it’s a dreary backwater mostly populated by a well-educated and pleasant native citizenry. The Muslim newcomers, however, have NOT been an improvement. Sweden’s Nazi view on homeschooling only makes it worse.

      Report Post » RedDawn2012  
  • hi
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:18pm

    At least everyone pays 50% tax there regardless of income. I’d rather have that than a progressive tax!

    Report Post » hi  
    • Pearsontech
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:35pm

      Really would you now. Here’s and idea. Why don’t you just go move there and live there if you like it so much better than here.

      Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:49pm

      I think HI’s point is EVERYONE PAYS.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:45pm

      Actually, film maker Ingmar Bergman had to leave the country, because his taxes were progressively assessed to 109% of his income. They later fixed the laws so he could keep 12%, because the whole affair was kind of embarrassing.

      Social assistance recipients don’t pay an income tax. Lower middle class income tax is at 55%. The higher the income, the more progressively taxed it is. That is in addition to 25% VAT, 12% for passenger transportation, hotel services and food. My uncle (lower middle class) considers anything over $5 expensive.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:04pm

      My uncle wanted to move to Canada, but unfortunately, the only way he could get in as a Swede was if he had $1 million to start up a business. He wryly noted that it would take him 4 lifetimes with Sweden’s taxation to get there, unless they decide to tax savings as well, which did not seem preposterous at all. He is now nearing the retirement. wondering whether the government won‘t run of other’s people money and thus effectively reducing his pension to a big fat zero.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
  • Nemo13
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:17pm

    If they were muslim, Sweden would kiss their feet and pay them. For Obama: Don’t renig in 2012.

    Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:19pm

      The word is “reneg” — as in “renegotiate”

      Report Post »  
    • bobball
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:19pm

      not an Obama fan, but your comment is racist and has no place here. You are not using that word correctly and I assume you did that on purpose.

      Report Post » bobball  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:55pm

      @BobBall. Your name is not Bob at all. You are “The most interesting man in the world”. Quit hiding behind that fake name.

      Report Post »  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:13pm

    This is what‘s coming during Ubama’s second half.

    Report Post » ShyMan  
  • Diablo4965
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:04pm

    God forbid these children grow up to be something other than a SAAB assembly line worker.

    Report Post » Diablo4965  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:57am

    A fine? This famly pays into the social system to educate other children in Sweden. Sweden should be grateful they didn’t ask for a refund.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • ghostsouls
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:09pm

      Come to the United States Rabbi….bring your entire family. You can educate them here in your own home. If we can sustain million of illegals bringing their children here to be educated on the American taxpayer’s dime, they can come here and educate their children here free of religious persecution.

      Report Post » ghostsouls  
  • mycomet123
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:54am

    I hate to say this BUT I would suggest you get out of the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • cemerius
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:43pm

      My Great-Grandfather did just that and when he made it here he said ‘We are in America now, we speak English”……Svenska is my only known Swedish word :)

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:27pm

      @ Cemerus
      My “Morfar” (mother’s father in Swedish) came here in the 1920′s. I have been over to Sweden a couple of times for family reunions. One odd thing (among other odd things) that I heard a few times was the bemoaning of the fact that so many left Sweden for America. Sweden has a falling population and they are “making up” for it by subsidizing the immigration of Muslims. Ironic and sad. The daughters of the feminists who have seen bearing and raising children as a plot by the “Patriarchy” will be under the heel of Islam.

      Report Post »  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:44pm

      Chuck, Malmö is already nearly lost, Göteborg half way. Even small towns like Lund aren’t far behind.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
  • MarsBarsTru7
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:48am

    Equal Opportunity + Equal Risk = Liberty
    Equal Prosperity + Equal Obligations = Shared Misery

    Report Post »  
  • GrumpyCat
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:47am

    The State can not tolerate individual exceptionalism.

    Report Post »  
  • 45-ACP
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:45am

    Stinking Sweds. I love their meat balls though.
    Lcok&Load
    45

    Report Post » 45-ACP  
  • LARR
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:44am

    Same thing is happening in Germany. Our church supports missionaries to Germany, and they are having to make the decision…to place their kids in local schools, or return to the states so they can homeschool.

    Report Post »  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:54pm

      I’d suggest returning home until the kids are out of school. While the Germans do need the gospel, we also have to be responsible for our own kid’s souls.

      Report Post »  
    • Darlie
      Posted on February 7, 2012 at 1:29am

      @ Brook, definitely! Seems we are reaching out to everyone and the church is losing its own children in droves. Give those precious children, made in God’s image, a Christ-centered education. So glad we made that “sacrifice.”

      Report Post »  
  • 1islander
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:35am

    Socialism is what you get in Sweden, try moving elsewhere.

    Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:40pm

      Yes, it‘s funny to me that you’d expect a different result in Sweden. I just came back from Sweden a few weeks ago, and individual freedom is not high on the goverment’s list.

      They nationalized the police force over there several years ago. Look at the statistics. The police can’t keep up, and I doubt they want to. I talked to someone who had his car stolen. When the police found it abandoned and vandalized, they called him to tell him where he could pick it up, and told him “we solved the crime!” The car was vandalized and his tools were stolen out of it, but the case was closed as far as the cops were concerned. In that city, you can’t even find a cop for more than 30 miles.

      “Equality as a fundamental value…” – No, sir. Collectivism is not equality. Equal portions of other people’s property is not equality.

      It’s Marxism. Why do you think they have a strong Nazi presence in Sweden? It’s not because their government falls on the right-hand side of the political spectrum.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:35am

    They always go after the children.

    Report Post » NeoKong  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:34am

    Herein rests the paradox. While religious Jews, of Judaism, fight for their individual rights as human beings, non-religious ethnic Jews are among the most active and vocal leaders opposing those same rights. This is the crux of rejection suffered by the Jewish people throughout a history that is today repeating itself.

    Report Post »  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:17pm

      You can’t extrapolate it to the past. It’s a fairly modern phenomenon, originating in the 2nd half of 19th century.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
  • lukerw
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:32am

    Socialism & Fascism go hand in hand… and take away Freedom!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:28am

    Welcome to the future of Obama’s empire; we are in the end game now.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:37am

      But he says he deserves four more years….

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • Steelhead
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:38am

      go crawl in your bunker if your life is so bad

      Report Post » Steelhead  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:55pm

      I hope obama keeps his promise…it has been three years and things are not better. He does not deserve another term….resign

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:25am

    If they were Muslim it would be O.K.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:49am

      It would no doubt be one of those ” “extraordinary” situation ” s … that would be allowed.

      Report Post »  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:24am

    Coming to a town near you if obama gets reelected….

    Report Post »  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:31am

      No doubt! Our children must be properly indoctrinated for the NWO…Homeschooling will be banned in all 53 states because we all know the public school system works best.Just ask those bright High School students in Washington state.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:45am

      BOMUSTGO:
      Which 5 states are going to be exempt?

      Report Post »  
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