A driver employed by the Dan Company referred to chareidim as “animals”, resulting in non-frum passengers on a bus to respond.
There can be no doubt that the constant reference to chareidim as “parasites” and the use of other derogatory terms in reference to the frum community in the media has some feeling they are licensed to refer to chareidim as they see fit. Perhaps since the last Knesset pushed its “share the burden” agenda to induct chareidim into the IDF, the chareidim in Israel have been under a magnifying glass and too often believed to be a population that takes without making any contribution to Israeli society. The chareidim are blamed for using too much of the state’s services, for failing to educate their children properly, and simply as being takers without contributing to society.
Chareidim traveling on a 45 bus from the Dan Company were shocked on Wednesday Chol Hamoed Pesach at about 20:20, when the driver referred to them as “animals”. According to persons who were on the bus traveling from Tel Aviv to Bnei Brak, prior to stopping, the driver announced “I have to stop for these animals now”.
There were dozens of chareidim waiting for the bus at Gesher Bavli, returning from a day of Yomtov fun at Gan Yehoshua. Kikar Shabbos quotes eyewitnesses saying the driver was not in the least bit embarrassed, making certain to make his remarks in a loud tone so others on the bus could hear him. Some of the non-religious passengers criticized the actions of the driver.
Some of the chareidim who got on the bus at that stop report the driver was quite volatile in his language towards them as they boarded. The driver then tried to explain his way out of the situation, stating he was angered because the people at the bus stop were standing in the street but it was clear to all that he foul language were simply the result of his hate for chareidim.
Attorney Moshe Morgenstern reports a number of the passengers insulted by the driver turned to him during Chol Hamoed Pesach to report the incident and their pain. He adds he and his clients are waiting to see how Dan deals with the driver prior to deciding what action they will take, if any.
Dan Company officials decried the actions of the driver, explaining such behavior towards any population is unacceptable. The company has summoned the driver for a hearing and adds it has the utmost respect for the chareidi tzibur.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
I’m sorry – I agree with the driver!
If anyone saw they way many frum Chardei kids acted on Chol Hamoed in the amusement parks – I would say the same thing!
Without any Metchlechkeit, very rude and loud.
A Chillul Hashem!
But they will “not” let him go , Dan is as guilty as there drive
I hope this Yid does NOT lose his job, maybe he was having a bad day, maybe he had negative experiences with frum Yidden in his childhood, maybe he has a child or sibling killed in the IDF or maybe his parents are Holocaust survivors who hated religion. Let us make a Kiddush Has-em and not be quick to judge.
Disgusting behavior and driver should be punished…..so too, should the behavior or a small segment of Chareidim which to a large extent forms the basis for such negative stereotypes and the anger felt by many hard working Israelis whose frame of reference is sadly the frequent news coverage of Chareidim attacking the security forces, burning dumpsters, demonstrating violently etc while contributing little to the Israeli economy.
#1 – you agree with the driver. And then you accuse those whom you proclaimed “animals” to be making a Chilul Hashem. You, presumably, are no animal. How, then, pray tell, would you characterize your characterization?
I don’t understand the problem here. Many commenters on YWN often refer to chareidim as “animals.” Didn’t realize it’s derogatory ….
כל הפוסל במומו פוסל
#1:
“If anyone saw they way many frum Chardei kids acted on Chol Hamoed in the amusement parks…”
You say “many”. Possible. But from your attitude I would suspect that it might be an exaggeration.
Even if your description is indeed accurate, does that give you a right to agree with someone who flippantly insulted an entire group of people he probably doesn’t know and never even saw, even though he never saw them behave badly?
Seems you suffer from the same disease.
One of these days you will eventually mess up, behave not so nicely, and someone will call you an animal, rightfully so, or otherwise.
How will you react?
Think about it. If you are capable of doing so.
WE all came from animals-Darwin