Polygraph test (Illustration)
Photo: Shaul Golan
Rabbinical court orders woman take polygraph test
In rare move, Haifa Regional Rabbinical Court rules woman accused of cheating, using drugs must take lie-detector test; believe this will help deter people who try to deceive the court
The Haifa Regional Rabbinical Court has ordered a woman to take a lie-detector test over her ties with other men and drug abuse after the religious judges believed that her husband, who claims she is cheating on him and using drugs, may be telling the truth.
According to the judges, if the suspicions against the woman prove to be true, she will be deemed unfit to raise her children. The use of a polygraph test is not unprecedented, but quite rare in the rabbinical courts.
According to the evidence presented by the husband so far, judges Rabbi Haim Hertzberg, Rabbi Yitzhak Shmuel Gamzo and Rabbi Michael Bliecher ruled that it could not be determined beyond doubt whether the accusations brought against the woman were true.
The woman had agreed to take a lie-detector test a year ago, but up to this day has refused to live up to her commitment. The court has now ruled that she must take the polygraph test, and if she refuses to do so, measures will be taken against her.
In addition, it was decided that she is entitled to pose questions of her own for her husband to answer in his polygraph test.
According to the judges, this advanced technology can be used to deter people trying to deceive the court and hide the truth, giving it halachic justification in any instance where there is a serious allegation believed to be true.
They further noted that while in the past it was common to torment the suspect with accusations of perjury, this is no longer possible, and a lie-detector test is the best solution.
