Yehudis Fletcher

Hundreds of Strictly Orthodox Jews protested outside Westminster as MPs inside Parliament debated a bill which could outlaw the Charedi practice of educating their children in religious Jewish institutions not currently recognised by the government

January 10, 2025, 9:46 am

OPINION: Charedi leaders don’t believe their own rhetoric and neither should you

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is urgent and does what it says on the tin: it ensures the wellbeing of all youngsters, including Charedi children

By Yehudis Fletcher

Charedi protesters wearing yellow stars in protest against proposed governmental regulation of religious schools

May 25, 2023, 3:42 pm

OPINION: A step in the right direction for educational reform

The proposed 'Children Not in School' register is NOT "an attack on Torah education' but a meaningful move to ensure, literally, that all Charedi children count, writes Yehudis Fletcher

By Yehudis Fletcher

A Charedi wedding. Photo by Yaakov Lederman/Flash90

April 27, 2023, 11:51 am

OPINION: Does the Bloom Review into faith go far enough?

In the wake of the landmark government faith report, Yehudis Fletcher argues we should never settle for intolerable harms in the name of religious tolerance

By Yehudis Fletcher

Charedi women; (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

March 8, 2023, 1:59 pm

OPINION: Why are all these women still not allowed to drive?

Is this day really different from all others? On International Women's Day, Charedi social activist Yehudis Fletcher asks why Orthodox women still don't count

By Yehudis Fletcher

Chasidic Jews in Jerusalem (Photo by Blake Campbell on Unsplash)

December 3, 2021, 1:30 pm

OPINION: Have you ever met a Chasid?

Chasidim make good headlines, but we risk overindulging in easy stereotypes as a way of deflecting from our own deficiencies, says Yehudis Fletcher

By Yehudis Fletcher

June 11, 2021, 2:47 pm

OPINION: JFS kids have spoken – I cry for other children who are being silenced

Yehudis Fletcher responds to turmoil in Jewish schools and the need for better safeguarding

By Yehudis Fletcher

Groom breaking a glass at Jewish wedding

May 14, 2021, 9:54 am

OPINION: Saying ‘I do’ to the Torah on Shavuot

Yehudis Fletcher looks at Shavuot's interpretation as a marriage between Jewish people and the the Torah - and its impact on consent in relationships

By Yehudis Fletcher

Helen Reddy in 1973 on the The Carol Burnett Show. (Wikipedia/Author CBS Television/ Permission: PD-PRE1978.
- © United States Copyright Office page 2 /via Jewish News)

October 1, 2020, 3:38 pm

OPINION: I am woman, watch me grow

Yehudis Fletcher reflects how her mother inspired her to think for herself, drawing upon the feminist icon and singer Helen Reddy who died this week

By Yehudis Fletcher

Jim Gamble, the Independent Child Safeguarding Commissioner of City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership

August 19, 2020, 11:13 am

OPINION: Nobody should need ‘consent’ to seek support after sexual abuse

Yehudis Fletcher reflects on remarks made by Rabbi Jehuda Baumgarten at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

By Yehudis Fletcher

July 13, 2020, 2:47 pm

OPINION: Marital rape is expressly forbidden in Jewish law. However…

Netflix drama Unorthodox may have had inaccuracies, but it portrayed marital rape in a way which reflects the experiences of thousands of couples in our community

By Yehudis Fletcher

July 31, 2019, 3:06 pm

OPINION: A Charedi family is as unique as yours

Yehudis Fletcher says the strictly-Orthodox community's conformity must not be taken for lack of individuality

By Yehudis Fletcher

Eli Spitzer (Credit: BBC Panorama: ‘Sex Education: The LGBT Debate in Schools’)

July 17, 2019, 12:01 pm

OPINION: How do children learn equality if they’re taught prejudice?

Following the BBC's Panorama documentary on same-sex education in faith communities, Yehudis Fletcher criticises the way those interviewed interpreted Jewish values

By Yehudis Fletcher

May 9, 2019, 3:34 pm

OPINION: We condemn each new generation to ignorance

Yehudis Fletcher says some Charedi schools perpetuate extremist views that veer far from the path of traditional Torah values, let alone British values.

By Yehudis Fletcher

March 28, 2019, 3:32 pm

OPINION: Sex and relationship education is about consent

Yehudis Fletcher reflects on the community's need to change the way it teaches SRE to stop abuse

By Yehudis Fletcher

March 7, 2019, 3:54 pm

OPINION: On abuse, we haven’t even started talking

Yehudis Fletcher reflects on the need to begin a new conversation when it comes to sexual abuse

By Yehudis Fletcher

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Yehudis Fletcher