Visiting the Neturei Karta

B"H

None of you should ever deny that the Neturei Karta has the most beautiful synagogue in Mea Shearim. Even more awesome than the local Mea Shearim Shtieblach.

During Sukkot, I finally succeeded in getting to the Neturei Karta Synagogue "Torah ve'Yirah" in the Mea Shearim market. There were still the Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations going on and Mea Shearim was so packed with people. Locals and plenty of visitors stepping on each others feet.

I mostly ended up with the Toldot Aharon but only succeeded once in seeing something. Once, I moved on to the "Mishkenot HaRoim", a tiny rather secret member of the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit". The men's entrance is easy to find but one has to know the women's entrance. The women's section is long and narrow. However, the Mechitzah consists of windows and the women are able to watch everything going on downstairs in the men's section. And one thing for sure, the "Mishkenot Haroim" know how to celebrate.

A few days later, I went to the Neturei Karta. "Torah ve'Yirah" is considered to be more moderate and not as extreme as Rabbi Israel Hirsch and his clan nearby. Torah ve'Yirah is a relatively new synagogue with a dining room downstairs and a big roof. Well, the women don't climb onto the roof but the women's section is rather high. Take many stairs into consideration when you enter. The cleaning staff is doing a good job and the place is spotless.
The women's section (Ezrat Nashim) itself consists of at least two rooms. One room with chairs, benches and an Aron HaKodesh (Torah Shrine). The second section is full of metal benches where the women are able to look into the ground floor. A gorgeous synagogue I have to say with colourful pictures hanging on the walls and a great architecture. Much nicer than on any picture.

The men were dancing and the male participants were anything but only chassidic. Actually there were more Litvishe but also Toldot Aharon. The whole building was packed that night and everyone was just streaming in. Seminary girls, national religious maybe less than litvishe girls. Americans or Israelis, anybody was there. Someone completely opposing the Neturei Karta said to me that probably most people didn't know that they were at the Neturei Karta's. This could be but everyone seemed to enjoy himself and politics were put aside.