The Transportation Ministry has halted mehadrin bus service on Jerusalem’s Number 2 bus, the separate seating on the bus that services the Kosel, Mattersdorf, Undsdorf, Givat Shaul, Har Nof and other areas.

The mehadrin service started the previous Tuesday and was halted a day later. The move to launch the service was undertaken to pressure the ministry to pick up the pace on implementing the service in compliance with the wishes of the chareidi community and the rabbonim.

Supporters of the line explain the timing for applying pressure is crucial since the ministry is currently evaluating existing lines. The issue of offering mehadrin service on the 2 line is not a new one. The chareidi community has made several requests over recent years, but they largely were ignored and the mixed or regular bus service continued, with Egged exhibiting unwillingness to abide with the requested service.

Activists involved in the mehadrin lines feel Egged wants “to save itself the headache”.

There are currently some 60 mehadrin bus routes nationwide, with about 10 in Jerusalem. Supporters of the service insist there is no justification for preventing this service on the Number 2 line, especially the bus that brings and takes passengers to the Kosel.

The Vaad Mehadrin allocated four buses for the line, to run at 30 minute intervals, beginning at 16:00, focusing on the rush hour and evening hours. The plan for this first phase was to run the buses for a month, as the efforts to pressure the ministry were increased. The ministry however contacted Rabbanei Tours, instructing the bus company to halt the service immediately, before being cited for violating the law.

The ministry in the coming days is expected to announce a tender, to give the mehadrin line (Number 2) to Egged for the next decade or alternatively, to another bus company. Proponents plan to increase pressure so the ministry understands the matter will not be ignored and it will not be swept under the carpet.

Tempers surrounding the bus line are flaring somewhat, with mehadrin officials accusing one Egged inspector of tearing the wire of a bullhorn that was announcing the new bus line. Last week, a bus traveling through Meah Shearim was attacked with rocks over the mixed seating.

Egged officials explain there are many changes taking place in Jerusalem’s bus service, much surrounding the planned light rail. In addition, there is a pending Supreme Court petition on the mehadrin bus service matter, which mehadrin proponents’ hope will lead to a High Court endorsement of the mehadrin service.

The activists are pushing ahead, explaining they feel compelled to continue their actions to promote the mehadrin service, in no small part in response to the call of the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita, who advocated for advancing the service some 15 years ago. They use Betar Illit as an example of how it works, servicing the life style of the frum commuters.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)