On Mehadrin Buses
To the Editor:
I would like to recall a historical fact that can be checked out by anyone.: If you remember, a few years ago it was frightening to ride on buses in Eretz Yisrael. Suicide bombers would get onto buses packed with innocent people and blow themselves up, killing and maiming hundreds. Nothing could be done about them; the army was helpless.
Then it was decided to launch mehadrin buses. As soon as these chariots of kedusha started running, the suicide bombers stopped.
unfortunately, the Supreme Court came out against mehadrin buses. Whereas before, women could enter through the back doors of the bus, now they have to enter through the front door, making it necessary for them to pass through the men. At one point, I read in Hamodia that Rav Kav "readers" (like they have on trains) would be installed on buses so women could enter through the back, but this never came about. Why don't we insist on this?
Also, there are signs on every bus saying that one traveler cannot tell another one where to sit. I have been told that one can end up in jail even for politely asking people to move. But why should anyone have to be told to move in order for the bus to be modestly segregated? The mehadrin buses pass through "our" neighborhoods, and each individual should be looking out for the kedusha of Am Yisrael, concerned about protecting his family and neighbors.
How long does a bus ride take? Must couples sit together when it is compromising the security of everyone, including themselves? (You can always talk when you get home.)
Please, I beg you, men sit in your part of the bus and women sit in yours. The safety of our nation depends on this.
May we be zocheh - in the zechus of showing Hashem that we care about His Torah and His having asked us be kadosh - that the redeemer should come to Tzion in mercy, very quickly.
With Torah blessings,
Rav Shmuel Littmann
lots of leaps. not bad..
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Any idea who this guy is - besides being historical garbage, why does he have to sign his name with the title "Rav".
ReplyDeleteReminds me of Margaret Thatcher:
Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't.
Must couples sit together when it is compromising the security of everyone, including themselves?
ReplyDeleteNow what if the couple is learning b'chavrusa? Which is the greater protection - their Torah learning or their segregation??
women shouldn't be learning Torah.. :-)
DeleteYou're right - klutz kashya!
DeleteIt's an absolute chutzpah that the writer suggests that the hishtadlus of the army is completely irrelevant. And for that matter all the little ladies reading Tehillim during their trip.
ReplyDeleteI am sure he agrees the ladies tehillim helps - as long as it is done from the back of the bus.. :-)
Deletedouble points!
DeleteWow, I don't know how I can possibly argue with such unassailable "logic".
ReplyDeleteHowever, inspired by Rabbi Littmann's fast-and-loose free-association approach to cause and effect, permit me to make note of some other things that also started at just about the time that the wave of suicide bombings stopped:
* Apple introduced the iPhone, and thousands of Jews started using the internet on mobile devices.
* Jerusalem started having an annual "gay pride" parade (or "to'eyva" parade, as others call it).
* Justin Beiber launched his musical career.
Using Rabbi Littmann's logic, I hereby propose a hypothesis that these were the reasons why the bus bombings stopped.
B'H we live in an age with so many Navim. It seems clear that one of you must be an Navi sheker. Your analysis makes sense to me. Perhaps you and Rabbi Littman should meet on the top of a mountain and settle this once and for all.
DeleteIn Paris, there are card readers at all doors.
ReplyDeleteIt more than struck me fancy! I posted about it today.
ReplyDeleteKedushas Am Yisrael is more important now than ever!
ReplyDeleteThe question is how to achieve it - in what ways, and ch"v on whose backs.
DeleteRafie,you and your blog make a mockery of all that is Kadosh and Tahor
ReplyDeleteI would be afraid to be in your shoes on Yom HaDin.
actually, I support all that is kadosh and tahor.. I make a mockery (if you wish to call it that) of all that make a mockery of Judaism by their ridiculous attempts to speak for God - especially when they make no sense.
ReplyDeletethough I too would prefer someone else's shoes for yom hadin, but for reasons other than this blog!
ReplyDelete