Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman has announced that for him, bringing an end to the Machane Yehuda nightlife will have to be a major campaign promise of any candidate he will support in the Jerusalem Mayoral election. This is true for other chareidi officials as well, apparently determined to bring an end to the Soho-style environment at the Shuk.
The changes at the Shuk were a major project of current Mayor Nir Barkat, who worked hard and invested large sums of money to transform the Shuk from being just a farmer’s market. Chareidi parties and leaders seem to be placing the closure of shuk nightlife high on their list of demands for a candidate.
Yossi Chavilov, a candidate in the Jerusalem mayoral race, is calling on the “Yerushalmi tzibur” to come out and demonstrate against these efforts at the entrance to the shuk. His call to oppose efforts to close the shuk were accompanied by distasteful descriptions of the Chareidi tzibur.
On his Facebook page, Chavilov wrote, “The chareidim are trying to force their will on the candidates for mayor, to close the shuk nightlife! Why? Because they think they can”.
The protest is scheduled for Thursday evening 24 Sivan. Chavilov added, “Together, we can make it clear to all those who still don’t get it. The shuk will remain open!”
Some of the Facebook responses were quite harsh. “We have to give it to the chareidim as they give it to the secular. We must get them out of the city. I do not even party at the shuk but I care about the city remaining sane”.
“The chareidim ignore us all around the country, not just in Jerusalem but nationwide. They live for free – leeches living at the expense of the nation and we finance them instead of investing in young couples. The chareidim receive money from the state from wherever they can. Leeches that destroy the state. They remind me of another sector in the country”.
Another respondent attacked Chavilov, writing, “There are also residents who want the market to close at night, but we already understand that you have something deep against the religion of Israel and against the chareidim in particular.
Orit wrote: “This is an excellent way to respond, and it is not possible for the chareidim to turn Jerusalem the capital of Israel into Bnei Brak. This is a city that must be bright, happy, touristy and enjoyable.”
Another comment first blasted Chavilov for generalizing, all the chareidim in one basket. What do you think about “Litzman” and not “all the chareidim?” If you wish to become mayor of Jerusalem, the first thin to know is not to incite one tzibur against another”.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
It was much better as a farmer’s market. That picture above is totally unrealistic, it usually looks like the black hole of calcutta.
How can chareidim stop partying. If not there, they will find other places in Yerushalayim to party. If trespassing onto kivrei Gur is the issue, then build a fence and lock it after hours. I really don’t get this whole tumult. perhaps a better solution is for chareidim to invite them for a Friday night kiddish and meal. Look what Rabbi Schuster o”h accomplished!
There’s a lot of people who live there who want it shut down for the noise. People who work at the shuk in the morning say it’s left a mess. Not just chareidim are upset. To be honest I could care less, there’s always going to be some kind of Ben Yehudah somewhere, I mean THERE’S such bars of that type in the Old City , a 5 minute walk away from the kosel.
I feel more towards the other people who live and work in that area, who must deal with broken glass, loud music, people wasted at 7am by their shuk stand etc…
Barkat made the shuk nicer but he was not responsible for making it a night life place for yuppies.
Seculars want a place to go to. They can’t watch TV and internet all day and night so they go out once in a while. The shuk is the in place for night life and is expanding.
Let the religious people figure out a way to attract them to the beis medresh which is a positive goal, instead of closing down the shuk at night which does not and will not yield any positive things. The seculars will just find another spot to go to So what will really be accomplished?