After Israel’s Supreme Court declared mehadrin buses illegal, we are introduced to mehadrin elevators. The ארמונות חן simcha hall in Givat Shaul, Yerushalayim, has set up a mehadrin elevator divided by a curtain that separates men and women in the elevator. The elevator is optional, for guests who wish to offer this new mehadrin service. A nylon curtain is placed in the elevator, permitting men and women to ride without seeking one another, in theory at least.
Hall owner Yosef Cohen told Walla News that on the day of one’s chupah, many wish to be especially careful regarding shmiras einayim and this is just another way of assisting them, nothing more. Cohen adds that one hall in Bnei Brak has two elevators, one for men and a second for women but he purchased the hall, which only has one elevator so this is the solution for those wishing it.
When asked what he has to say to the critics, Cohen questions why anyone finds this bothersome since it is only used upon request of a bal simcha.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
What’s the next step in this lunacy?
Separate seating in shul.
to #1:
Probably to ban separate seating, and eventually to ban separate seating in shuls and single-sex schools.
Only a rapid religious zionist sees this as lunacy. The people who run Israel are hardly insane. Their goal has always been, since the beginning of zionism 100+ years ago, to establish a Jewish homeland “free” of Torah. They are proceeding rationally. Do not mistake hatred for insanity.
ארמונות חן hall is located in Bnei Brak
This lunacy has nothing to do with the Israeli government. You can find this same lunacy in America.
What’s the next step separate cities for men and women? These lunatics are becoming worse than the taliban.
This is irrelevant, since people could just wait for the next elevator or just take the stairs. But after all, this is a private hall, and on private property, everyone has the right to do whatever they want.
Public Egged buses with a city tender should definitely not be separated. If you want to get a private bus and separate that, have fun. But public services belong to everyone. You can’t force your beliefs on everyone else.