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Aug 17, 2010
Mechitzas to the Kotel
Kikar Shabbat is reporting that the "Committee for Purity of the Camp" - הוועדה למען טוהר המחנה -- has petitioned Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch, rav of the Holy Places around Israel, most notably rav of the Kotel, that the situation of tzniyus in the kotel area has become so bad that they request/insist/demand that he install mechitzot along all walkways that lead toward the Kotel, and especially from Shaar Ha'Ashpot, The Dung Gate, there should be a mechitza all the way from the gate to the kotel.
They sent him a letter stating their request/demand, and say they have been working on this a long time, and have discussed this in the past with Rav Rabinovitch, and have yet to see any change implemented. They even say that they have discussed it with anti-religious groups who have given their agreement to doing this.
What does "walkways leading to the Kotel" include? the last few meters before the kotel? the streets all the way back to Jaffa Gate? would the mechitza be set up through the Arab Shuk walkways or only through the Jewish Quarter walkways?
Would the new elevator/cablecar from the Jewish Quarter to the kotel also be affected by this? Would it be for men only? women only? 2 separate elevators?
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Well, I always wondered why there were separate entrances to the plaza for men and women but before and after one could mingle freely.
ReplyDeleteOnly question is: how many warnings left before they implement their riot strategy to force the change?
Is there any precident for this attitude which is becoming more and more common in the Charedi world.
ReplyDeleteWere there segregated public areas in the Shtetle, or in King David's Jerusalem, or any other time or place in history?
I dont know if what I am about to say is true or not, but as far as I know and can tell from my reading, life was never before as based outside of the home, especially for women, as it is today.
ReplyDeleteMaybe never before was it much of an issue because women stayed mostly at home. And even when they went out they probably kept a very low profile.
No, I don't think so. I think that it's because there is much that is rotten within the community so emphasizing and fanatasizing over tznius issues is their way of coping. Like, sure we have pedophilia and corruption problems but look how much we separate our men and women! We are sooooo holy!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think Dr. Garnel's response is more in the correct direction than Rafi's (albeit a bit exagerrated). If one looks at old photos from Eastern Europe, reads narratives, speaks with old relatives it is quite clear that many many women were among the average working folk in the villages. The husbands were the ones more likely to roam further from home in search of a living; but locally the woman were involved in running taverns or boarding guests or producing milk products, meat, etc. They may not have been out as MUCH or as FAR as today's women; but they weren't exactly cloistered, either. That is just another bit of the fantisizing that today's haredim do; just as they do with their clothing and other things.
ReplyDeleteThis encroachment on the irghts of others is becoming a major issue.
ReplyDeleteOn the bus I am asked to move my seat to accomodate their comfort (many times).
On the plane take-off is usually delayed as they play mucical chairs. If it means that much to them they should buy 2 seats!
Regarding this protection for tznius..it seems that the more they decree about tznius, etc the more pedophilia, etc we see.
Could there be a connection?
I respect their right to believe such. i don't respect their right to force it on me, other Jews and the non Jews on the panes, busses, etc.
But don't worry in another decade or so their sharira will be the LAW for all of us.
Simple solution. Announce that for every riot, *ALL* Charedim will be banned from the kotel for a day. Not as punishment, but as a safety measure. Just like we do with Arabs when they riot.
ReplyDelete