Claim: "The Haredim at the hotel called me 'shiksa'"

The court accepted the claim of a family who claimed they prosecuted a travel agency who sold them a vacation package at a hotel without informing them that the majority of guests are Orthodox.

In February 2012, a family ordered through a travel agency, Margaliot Tourism LTD a Passover holiday vacation package in a hotel in Tiberias, and paid 7500 shekels.

According to family members when they arrived at the hotel they were disappointed by the poor maintenance of the place, its facilities and rooms. The court rejected this argument, because the judge said the family should have expected a low level in light of the low price of the resort.

The family further argued that when they booked their holiday through the travel agency they were told explicitly that diverse population will be hosted at the hotel, but upon arrival they noticed that most of the guests are Haredi. Family members suffered harassment due to their dress, and to their direction were cries of "shiksa."

The plaintiffs demanded compensation from the travel agency of NIS 40,500, but the travel agency argued, however, that they are not responsible for the quality of services in the hotel and could not know the composition of the population.

The court held that when the agency was asked by the family regarding the composition of the population they should have checked with the family whether this point was significant for her, and if so, would not recommend them to purchase the vacation package. Travel agency was ordered to pay compensation to the family of NIS 5,250, plus NIS 3,500 attorney's fees.

Response of the travel agency, Margaliot Tourism LTD. "the hotel is a three-star hotel and the family knew it. So payment was in accordance, as written in the ruling.

"With regard to the second argument, the hotel is glatt, and also serves the ultra-Orthodox population during the year. We offered to the family to return them the original amount they paid, amounting to NIS 7,500, but they expected to get 'rich' on us and demanded over 40 thousand shekels.

"Fortunately, the court does not think like them and returned them only some of the original payment, so ultimately it was their loss, and it is a shame."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!