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Woman's life partner recognized as her widow
In unprecedented ruling, Haifa's Labor court decides to award woman's life partner monthly benefits to a toll of 40 percent from her pension fund
David Regev
In an unprecedented ruling, Haifa's Labor court decided Sunday to recognize Or Lephler's life partner as her widow, awarding her monthly benefits to a toll of 40 percent from Lephler's pension fund.
Or Lephler's story, revealed three years ago by Yedioth Ahronot, told the story of a young woman, given up for adoption as a child, who needed a bone-marrow transplant from her biological mother if she were to survive her rare, life threatening disease.
The biological mother refused at first, fearing her family, who knew nothing about the baby she had given up. After the story broke, the mother had a change of heart, and secretly donated bone-marrow for her daughter. Unfortunately, Lephler suffered complications after the transplant, and later died.
Lephler, as Yedioth Ahronoth revealed again a few months later, had been living with a woman, and the two had a baby together.
After her death, Lephler's partner petitioned the court, assisted by attorney Dori Spivak of the human rights program in Tel Aviv University, asking for recognition for her as Lephler's widow, and for their daughter as an orphan, making them eligible for fund from her pension fund.
Mivtachim insurance company, holder of Lephler's pension fund, claimed in response that Lephler's partner should be considered a widower whose wife died, giving her a lower, 20 percent pay, from the pension fund.
Local labor judge in Haifa, Itta Katzir, ruled in favor of Lephler, awarding her benefits of 40 percent from the pension fund.
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