In all likelihood, more visitors pass through Meah Shearim during Sukkos than any time of the year, compelling community rabbonim to take steps towards enabling them to maintain the level of tznius that has become synonymous with the community year-round.
Sadly, while sukka building is seen in every corner of the area, and the shuls and yeshivos are preparing to hosts thousands for the famous ‘Simchas Beis HaShoeva’, the secular press cannot see the Yomtov spirit and the hachnasas orchim, but once again finds cause to point an accusing finger at the chareidim.
The daily Haaretz for example speaks about the preparations towards “imposing gender segregation” which violates High Court rulings, detailing how “women are excluded from certain streets during the intermediary days of Sukkos”.
Seeking to extend its secular arm to Meah Shearim, Israel’s High Court last year ordered Toldos Aaron to remove the Mechitzas, perhaps even expecting the Rabbonim Shlita to comply with such a ruling.
While secular Jews who visit Har HaBayis exhibit a measure of understanding for Islamic religious sensitivities, refraining from men and women touching on the Holy Site, signs politely requesting women to dress modestly in Meah Shearim seem to present a challenge to the secularists who view themselves as champions of women’s’ rights and enforcers of the rulings of the High Court, unable or simply unwilling to exhibit the same measure of understanding for Jewish religious sensitivities.
Last year, Jerusalem Councilwomen Rachel Azaria of the Yerushalmim (Jerusalemites) faction and Laura Verton (Meretz) petitioned the High Court of Justice, which accepted the petition and ordered the police to revoke the segregation.
“This year will be the same as last year,” a senior ultra-Orthodox official told Haaretz. “We’re not doing it to harm women. 15,000 men are coming and 1,500 women, so we’re simply moving the women to Shivtei Yisrael Street, from which they will enter the women’s section”.
Whatever the case, protests, additional court rulings, or police intervention, what is for certain is that in Meah Shearim, the High Court does not reign supreme.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
“Israel’s High Court last year ordered Toldos Aaron to remove the Mechitzas, perhaps even expecting the Rabbonim Shlita to comply with such a ruling.”
I love this line.
I would agree that the secular press, and secular Jews in general, completely miss the point on issues of tznius and the like. That said, I think their bias is no more absurd and inaccurate than are many frum stereotypes of the secular. Here the two prejudices merge into a perfect storm of mutual disdain. How lovely.
City streets in Meah Shearim are open to the public. I’m not sure why it’s so laughable that a court would expect any Israeli citizen to be able to walk on any public city street in Israel.
Contrary to what Toldos Aaron may believe, they can’t forbid women from walking on streets in Meah Shearim, just as a secular Jewish group couldn’t prevent Charedim from walking on the streets in Rehavia.
The point is the “Jewish” State is, from legal, political, philosophical, and media standpoints, only for some Jews.
There was just something on the news about either williamsburg or boro park about signs hanging on trees saying women should move over for men when walking. I think it was a big chillul Hashem that these were hung up. The most major reason being that it was not LEGAL for them to hang these signs and they weren’t stapled to the trees. They were bolted!!!