Amazingly, the entire neighborhood of Meah Shearim consists of a relatively few small narrow streets, yet for those who cannot permit others to live in peace, Sukkos brings with it the opportunity to accuse the tzibur of this community of degrading women, the annual rishus event in which secularists decry the signs that instruct men and women entering the community to use opposite sidewalks towards maintaining tznius in line with the community’s wishes.
In the events that took place on Monday night, motzei the first day of yomtov in Yerushalayim, the provocateurs arrived with the media and the rocks began flying. As a result, Yediot Achronot photographer Atta Awisat was injured in his head in what was described as a light injury when he was struck outside the Toldos Aaron Beis Medrash. A police was also injured as they tried maintaining order following the provocation of the ‘Yisrael Chofshit’ organization activists.
Police and officials in Toldos Aaron point of finger of blame at the sikrikim for the rock-throwing violence.
Mickey Gitzin, a leader of the Yisrael Chofshit group told Yediot, “A year ago the High Court of Justice ruled that there is no room for events in which women are excluded. We expect the prime minister to make it clear that red lines exist also in issues like women’s exclusion. Israel has not only external threats, like the Iranian bomb.”
Bottom line, authorities moved the fence to the side, providing a victory for those who oppose the mechitza which has been declared illegal. Toldos Aaron officials did not seek to interfere with police who were enforcing the High Court decision of last year.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
The fence for the separation was moved back a few minutes later as soon as the police left.
The police don’t want or care to provide a 24/7 presence there.
Why do they throw rocks knowing that its muktzah ?
YWN, could I recommend the example of other newspapers that separate reporting and the editorial page? I’m still not clear on what happened.
“The rocks began flying…”
All by themselves?
The issue has nothing to do with sidewalks, or pritsos, or sukkos. It has to do with the Zionist (i.e. secular Zionists) rulers of Eretz Yisrael who see the continued existence of the Hareidi community as an existential threat. Whereas it might be possible to partition Eretz Yisrael into Jewish and Arab states (whether it is a good idea, is another question), the only solution to the real problem is for the Hilonim to find a way to destroy the Hareidim community before it becomes too big to control.
Yisrael Chofshit is there to start a fight. If an org wants a mechitza let it be. The court of Israel should not tell a
shul how to run it’s business.