Different Worlds

B"H

Sukkot in Jerusalem is a completely different world. However, celebrating Sukkot in Mea Shearim is even more different. Of course, nothing is as special as spending the high holidays in the Old City but no where there is so much joy as in Mea Shearim. Not to mention the exaggerated prices of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City. Even the price of the tiniest bag of junk food is horrendous.

Also the most enjoyable Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations are taking place in the ultra – orthodox neighbourhood but this year, only Jews are really welcomed.
As every year during Sukkot, thousands of Christians are coming to Jerusalem. On October 2nd, they are having an organized parade through the city center and the Rabbanut (chief rabbinate) as well as other leading rabbis have warned against this kind of parade and Jews are not allowed to participate. In charge of the Christian parade is the so called Christian Embassy, missionary organizations and messianic Jews.

There are many honest Gentiles in the world but this year, they all have to suffer due to too many Christian missionaries in Jerusalem. Jews just ban the parade and hardly anyone is interested. The result is that at the moment, Christians are not wanted in Mea Shearim. Especially not for the chassidic celebrations.

But not only the Christian parade is highly controversial, also Chabad has its pros and cons. Last Thursday night, Chabad had planned one of their Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations in Channah Street, near Bar Ilan Street. Right in front of one of their Yeshivot they set up a stage and invited everybody. For those of you who know the area, the Yeshiva is located next to the synagogue of the Kaliver Rebbe.

Mea Shearim was full of posters condemning the Chabad event. The Agudat Israel claimed that this kind of event was totally immodest. People told me that there obviously was no Mechitzah and men and women were dancing together. Additionally, the Agudah including leading litvishe rabbis (whose names were not mentioned) planned a demonstration in a street nearby.

I decided to check out both events and with a friend I went to the Chabad celebration first. We arrived on time at 9 pm and already many people had gathered in Channah Street. Wherever there is something to earn, businesspeople are there. Channah Street was full of little stands selling junk food and popcorn.
Further down, the street was divided into a men's and women's section. As a matter of fact, there was a Mechitzah and in order to assure everybody to see what is going on on stage, Chabad has set up three huge screens.

To make it short, the event was not too exciting. Actually it was pretty boring and the only excitement was three fireworks. Some Chabad rabbis made a speech which no one really followed, as the volume of the microphone was too low.
After an hour we decided to have a look at the demonstration. We later found out why the Chabad Simchat Beit HaShoeva was considered immodest. People who live in the houses nearby were able to look into the women's Mechitzah from above.

The demonstration consisted of about 100 people. Mostly Vishnitz, Satmar and litvishe Haredim. Gur and Belz did not participate.
Actually there was not too much going on either. Sometimes they shouted and the police were busy keeping them away from entering Channah Street. Some of the demonstrators through firecrackers and a policeman hit a Haredi. First we thought that this would cause a panic but it did not.

Later on, further firecrackers were thrown and a young Haredi got arrested. He was thrown into an army jeep and other demonstrators shouted at the police. The cops lost their attention and the Haredi jumped out of the jeep and was about to escape. In this very moment, some policemen ran after the run away and others were beaten by the demonstrators. A big mess followed where the demonstrators threw garbage cans into the street.

This was basically the end of the event. Chabad had finished without noticing the demonstration and two demonstrators got arrested. People started going home.

We left as well and went to Mea Shearim where another surprise was waiting for us. Certain main roads were divided into men and women's sections. Approx. in the middle of Mea Shearim Street, leading down from Kikar Shabbat to Shivtei Israel, was a Mechitzah. Women had to make their way around through Shomrei Emunim Street and thus got to Shivtei Israel.

I did not really understand the logic of this Mechitzah, as everybody got mixed up anyway. Posters had proclaimed the division but no particular names were mentioned. I could not find out about who was really in charge of the division, as someone had signed with: The Purity Committee.

Eventually we arrived at the Toldot Aharon synagogue and let me say one thing; Toldot Aharon really knows how to celebrate and everyone who has seen them does not think about Chabad anymore. Unfortunately it was so crowded that we did not see too much.

We went to Toldot Avraham Yitzchak and there, we were able to see a bit. They had a band playing chassidic music and some members were dancing enthusiastically. This was so great to see and the spectators had lots of fun.

Tonight we are going to a private party at Rabbi Mordechai Machlises house but later on, we will be back in Mea Shearim.
Maybe I should not say it, as the Jewish Quarter in the Old City is a special place and used to be the sight of the Beit HaMikdash. Anyway, today, the greatest Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations are taking place in Mea Shearim.