The news reported on Pesach about a show in Park Anabe in Modiin in which during the show a female volunteer was chosen to assist the presenter. With a large haredi audience present, presumably, but not necessarily, from the nearby Modiin Ilit, a woman from the audience requested that the volunteer be changed for a male volunteer instead of female.

(picture taken from Haaretz website)

This was not let to pass, and what might have been an innocuous incident, innocuous on both sides - the act could have gone on and those who didnt want to look didnt have to, and the request could have been honored and not challenged - has turned into another point in the fight of haredim in the public sphere dealing with women in the public sphere.

While I do believe there is no need to force the haredi public to integrate the ideals, lifestyles and philosophies of the general public into their own communities, and a certain level of leeway should be allowed for their cultural preferences even when they go against the laws and ideals of general society (as long as nobody is being harmed by it), I do not think that applies in this situation.

If the city of Modiin Ilit wanted to sponsor a circus performance with only male performers, and have gender separate performances, I would be fine with that. Despite the fact that it is sponsored by a public body (the Iryah) and it includes gender segregation. That is the culture the haredim have developed, even though it is fairly new, and I have no problem with that.

However, in this situation, the haredim went into Modiin to enjoy the performance there. The secular (and dati) city of Modiin sponsored a performance that was not deemed for haredim, but for the local residents who are not interested in gender segregation. The fact that hundreds of haredim showed up, should not change anything. When they go into secular cities to take advantage of secular entertainment, they should not complain when it does not conform to their ideals. This is an example of them attempting to impose their ideals on others.

And then they don't understand when Modiin residents get upset and try to devise ways to keep the haredim out of their events and parks.

Next time, instead of flocking to secular cities to enjoy the entertainment there, they should encourage their own city municipality to sponsor and arrange performances locally that meet with the ideals and culture they wish to live by.


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