Letter telling women not to drive is a Purim spoof

A LETTER apparently sent by the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations declaring that women should not be allowed to drive on Purim, is a “fake”, the organisation has declared.

The notice was sent on UOHC headed paper and warned members of the Strictly Orthodox Stamford Hill community that women should not take to the wheel if men were unfit to drive because of drinking during the festival.

It is a regarded as a mitzvah to consume alcohol at Purim.

The letter, which was circulated on social media, stated: “The public are informed that despite the mitzvah of shesiyah (drinking) on Purim, women should still not drive on the road in public.

“This has always been the way of the tsenuah b’yisrael (public decency) and it is incumbent on men to ensure they are in a fit position to drive if they are required.”

It advised that a taxi firm, the “Emess Car Service”, was providing additional vehicles “to cater to extra demand”.

Chanoch Kesselman executive director of the UOHC, said: “This is a fake. People get hold of our headed paper and we can’t control it.

“Maybe they thought they were being funny for Purim. But we have not banned anyone from driving.”

He said the union had sent out official guidelines which focused on advice on how to enjoy the festival safely.

Eating and drinking alcohol is integral to Purim.

According to one tradition, Jews should drink to the point where they cannot distinguish between Haman — the Persian king’s adviser who wanted to destroy the Jewish people and Mordecai, the Jewish sage who foiled him .

In 2015 British leaders of a major Chasidic sect declared that women should not be allowed to drive.

Belz rabbis said that having female drivers goes against “the traditional rules of modesty in our camp” and against the norms of Chasidic institutions. The spoof letter on UOHC headed paper