This event is being promoted in RBS for tomorrow night, to deal with the threats and temptations of the IDF against the Chareidim...

My neighborhood had a power outage today because of a private contractor accidentally damaging a power line. 

The City of Bet Shemesh published the following announcement regarding Lag BaOmer bonfires around Bet Shemesh for the upcoming holiday...

After the success of the repeated protests in Jerusalem against two cellular shops accused of selling not kosher phones because the stores were uncertified by the relevant committee, the people involved have gotten emboldened. 

I stopped to drink some water from a public water fountain in the streets of RBS and noticed something written on the frame of the fountain just beside the dispenser, the perfect spot for a person to see it when he bends over to drink:

The city of Bet Shemesh continues to grow in leaps and bounds, especially in the newer area of the city's RBS neighborhoods. All the new neighborhoods have shopping centers, some with smaller or bigger malls of sorts, with more on the way.

the document is the protocol of an agreement (to be signed) between the rabbonim of RBS and the owner of store x
From a recognition that the population of RBS is Haredi and their sensitivities must be taken into consideration, and from the Haredi community wanting to be customers of the store, it is agreed between the sides to adhere to the following items:
1. clothes should be according to halacha
2. the entrance to the shop: no mannequins, pictures, mirrors and fitting rooms in the entire area of the entrance that is exposed to passerby outside
3. boys clothes: to be sold on a separate floor or in a separate section completely closed off. mirrors, fitting rooms and undergarments should be far away from the view of children
4. mirrors and fitting rooms: see previous paragraphs
5. pictures: people wearing tzanua clothes and only in places where passerby cannot see
6. music: only haredi or classic music, not loud, and no music of women singing at all
7. staff: only women and girls
8. employee dress code: tzanua clothes, respectful and not tight, including skirt below the knees , sleeves covering elbows, closed collar.
9. screens: in the entire area of the store, no screens allowed at all
supervision of the store will be appointed by the rabbonim and will receive full support of the store and its staff.
the store owners are obligating themselves to fulfill all the instruction sof the rabbonim and their representatives, and any desired changes should first to be run by the rabbonim.
to be signed....

As always, except for last year because of the CoronaVirus lockdown for Pesach, Keren Lev Yisrael is running their free hagalat keilim right now. 

Photo Credit: Menachem Schloss Video Productions

This drone shot is of my neighborhood of RBS A from above the corner of Nahals Ayalon and Kishon looking up Nahal Ayalon toward the Jerusalem hills. the angle is due east, precisely towards Jerusalem.

The other day the Ministry of Transportation announced changes to some of the bus routes in Bet Shemesh, including changes to the very popular bus #419. This bus serviced mostly the residents of RBS C (Gimmel), but it also serviced the residents of RBS A by exiting the city via the outskirts of RBS A with a few stops on the peripheral road. Along with many residents who live near that part of the route, many residents form all over RBS A would go to bus stops along this route because it was a much more efficient mode of transportation into Jerusalem, as it did make its way winding throughout the city before leaving. A resident of RBS A would save a minimum of 30 minutes by using the 419 over other lines, and often much longer especially during rush hour traffic.

The announcement raised an outcry on social media. Residents of RBS A were upset because a great bus route was being taken away from them. Using the other bus lines will increase transportation time by 30-45 minutes in each direction. Another problem is that the residents of the Ramat Shilo neighborhood within RBS A would now have another bus route taken away from them, with almost none left passing by their part of the neighborhood.

A better solution was requested, rather than a solution that helps one area by taking away from another. The real problem is that with no real government for the past year, there are no new budgets for adding lines, and no new tenders being published. Until elections will bring about a definitive government, all they can really do is put some band-aids on the bad situation.

Deputy Mayor of Bet Shemesh Rena Hollander took notice and took it upon herself to try to find a solution, temporary as it may be. She expressed the urgency of the matter to Minister of Transportation Betzalel Smotritch (it helps that they are both members of the same party and have an interest in helping each other to help the public), and today they announced a temporary resolution.

According to a notice put out by Minister Smotritch, posted by Rena Hollander on Facebook, he was made to understand the gravity of the situation by Rena Hollander and Yisrael Mendelson and Nisim Bariach, he has decided that for now half the buses on the 419 route will remain in operation according to the original route, and half will operate along the new route. As well, at some point int he next week, half oof the buses on the 417 line will continue along its original route and half will collect passengers in RBS A and then leave to Jerusalem without winding its way throughout the city.

Minister Smotritch expressed his hope that the legal situation will soon come to an end and they will be able to publish the tender for renewing the public transportation of Bet Shemesh. This will increase the lines by nearly 50%, and will be a resolution for the needs of all the neighborhoods and communities and the continued development of the city.

kol hakavod for this temporary solution!

After a number of recent motor vehicle accidents in RBS, and in Bet Shemesh as a whole, Cellular-E, a local cellphone repair (and sales) shop, in conjunction with Ezrat Achim, are running a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of texting and driving.



Very important message.. don't use your phone while driving..

the following text is copied form a post on Facebook (in a closed local group, so it cant be shared directly) by Deputy Mayor Rena Hollander:

Great news for the residents of RBS A-
We are pleased to announce that in cooperation with the Bayit Yehudi representatives - Deputy Mayor Rena Hollander, Nissim Bariach and Israel Mendelson - and Mayor Aliza Bloch, yesterday budgets were approved for the construction of a library and youth club in RBS A. In addition, a budget was approved for the planning of a swimming pool in the neighborhood.
The budgets and plans approved are a result of hard work of the Bayit Yehudi representatives and the mayor, as part of the coalition agreement signed between them, according to which the representatives of BY are responsible for allocating the development budgets to the neighborhood.The youth club will be used by the youth in the neighborhood, who are desperately lacking places of gathering and activity.
The library will be a pleasant cultural gem for all residents of the neighborhood.
We plan on allocating more budgets in 2020 to build the pool.
We will continue to act for the benefit of our constituents and the general public in the city !!

Way to go!

Egged announced the other day that they are canceling the bus stop on the corner of Yirmiyahu St and Aholiav St in Jerusalem for the 418 and 419 bus routes leaving Jerusalem towards Ramat Bet Shemesh. Local city buses will continue to use that bus stop. This Friday, December 14, it will go into effect (though I do not know if that means Friday will be the last day or if the stop will already not be functioning on Friday - I suspect it is the latter).

This is significant because for these routes this was the only bus stop in the area of the Central Bus Station. Canceling this stop will mean people requiring this bus will have to go much further to find it - if they take a bus or train from another part of the city, they cant just go to the Bus State and walk down to the nearest stop - now they have a long walk or will have to take another bus to a different stop along the line. This is very inconvenient and will be the cause of a lot of anguish and frustration for travelers. This is also a very busy bus stop, so many people will be affected.

By the way, for people not sure what stop this is - it is across form Center 1 in jerusalem, just outside the Beit Yahav building, and across from the Ichud Hatzala building.

No reason was given in the announcement, but after many complaints, Egged has responded saying it is because of issues with road work and traffic flow in the area.

According to Kikar, Bet Shemesh City Councilman Shmulik Greenberg (also formerly responsible for the transportation portfolio - to his credit, even though he is no longer responsible for it) is putting forth efforts to resolve this problem in communication with Egged and the Ministry of Transportation, and Mayor Aliza Bloch is also in touch with the Transportation Ministry and Egged to get this resolved.

photo credit: Yissachar Ruas Photography

this is a photo of a brush fire yesterday in RBS that forced residents of nearby streets to be evacuated. The fire destroyed one nursery school and a caravan shul - though the Torahs were saved.

mazel tov!

Paid parking in central shopping areas throughout Bet Shemesh is about a year old. Shortly after implementation the parking areas were so empty there was concern that businesses would have been negatively impacted as people head to the malls with free parking to do their shopping instead.

A year later, I would say that the stores look pretty busy, mostly normal, on a regular basis, especially later in the week as Shabbos approaches. There is just about always available parking, as people park a bit further away for free, the rental companies are not using the spots and other reasons.

The "Salvation Committee of Merchants" has put out a notice on behalf of business owners in RBS A and RBS B about how the paid park is destroying the local businesses and should be canceled. They call it a "fine". They also only refer to businesses in these Haredi neighborhoods and do not coordinate and cooperate with businesses around the rest of the city.



So, perhaps my impression of the businesses largely doing ok is wrong. Maybe only a few are struggling, and maybe some are struggling for reasons not related to the parking. As well, many people will prefer indoor air conditioned malls anyway, regardless of the parking, over an outdoor shopping center where one must maneuver in the heat or rain between shops.

Either way, I hope they find a solution, as nobody wants the local businesses to be hurt. I do think trying to get paid parking canceled is basically futile and they should put their efforts elsewhere.

Regarding the video shown the other day of the woman in RBS hosing down protesters.. the video elicited strong responses around the web, from glee to seeing her stand up to the hooligans in religious garb to criticism of her use of violence against peaceful protesters..

Here, in today's FSotD, is Amanda Bradley explaining her actions, in her own words...

the regular protests of some non-local-to-the-neighborhood people against a local Haredi IDF officer who works for the IDF draft board have been upsetting to many, saying keep your intolerance in your neighborhood - keep your protests in your neighborhood and do not ruin ours... one woman, a neighbor who has had enough of these regular protests, decided to take the matter into her own hands... though it looks as if it did not bother them too much and even came prepared for it. I guess you at least have to admire their dedication to the cause...