Photo: Chadrei HaCharedimI am really sick of the whole issue.
Mea Shearim and Ge'ulah seem to be the latest victims of an extreme group (the Sikarikim ?) dividing the streets according to gender. On Erev Shabbat and Shabbat itself, the narrow streets in Mea Shearim and surroundings would be too crowded with men and women walking along. Crowded narrow alleyways could cause a Haredi to get evil Yetzer thoughts into his mind. Even if the woman is modestly dressed.
I do understand certain modesty issues but slowly I start asking myself why a male member of this particular group demanding a gender divison on Shabbat does get married at all. You want modesty ? Stay on your own in your Beit Midrash where you just look into your books. In case Avraham Avinu came along, he would think that you are an alien or a nut. Let alone what David HaMelech (King David) may think.
How does anyone explain our forefathers ? Yitzchak praying together with his wife Rivka (Rebekka) ? How about Beruriah, Devorah, Yael, Rashi's daughters, Donna Gracia and hundreds of other emancipated women ? I do feel sorry for the Mea Shearim women in case the new ruling is coming through. What is a woman on Shabbat ? An Eshet Chayil who has to stay at home ? Not an Eshet Chayil but a useless rag.
Of whom are those extremists really afraid ? Of themselves or that women may start thinking and demand their rights ? This is neither religion nor modesty but dictatorship ! A men's world struggling for keeping up it's power.
Photo: Walla
I totally agree! Why should women be hidden away just because they have no control! Some holy men--they are only holy if the conditions are perfect for them. Somebody should tell them to pay attention to what they are studying and maybe they will learn something.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. This is the another example of the Talibanisation of Haredi society.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened to "And you shall not turn right or left from all of the words I am commanding you this day.." or "chadash assur min hatorah"?
If anyone can find a precedent for this in Jewish history I will give them a (as yet undisclosed) prize.
B"H
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand why some Haredim always like to claim that the whole Meshiach issue depends on Zniut. I just don't get it.
And, of course, it is the woman who has to keep it. No mentioning about men and their behaviour.
In other words, Meshiach doesn't seem to come because I am wearing pants sometimes.
I knew it was my fault.:-)
Shalom!
ReplyDeleteI'm not hareidit, but I do avoid physical contact with men, which is not a new halacha. Even in America I've seen arrangements on Shabbat for men and women to leave synagogue in an orderly manner, through different doors. And I've seen similar arrangements in communities that are not at all hareidi. If you read the poster carefully it does not instruct women to stay at home. Separation of the sexes is not discriminating against either one. All of the righteous women mentioned in the blog were very modest. There are laws concerning modest dress and behavior for men as well as women. Why are they different for men? Men have a different yetzer. Any woman, Jewish or not, can tell you that. As for the Mashiah not coming yet... sinat chinam is the biggest problem.
It's not about modesty and never was. It's about power and control.
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteI didn't have so much time reading the news yesterday but I think I saw that some Mea Shearim Rabbis have agreed to that rule. Meaning, certain streets in Mea Shearim and Ge'ulah are going to be divided on Erev Shabbat and on Shabbat itself.
First it really looked like a wild suggestion of the Sikarikim (Zealots). However, it turned out that there are actually people supporting the new ruling.
To the Haredit:
Usually there are gender separations in Mea Shearim, Ge'ulah and in Bnei Brak during Sukkot. Then, thousands of people are streaming to the Tishes and it does make some sense seperating the narrow streets and alleyways.
I know all these things with the Yetzer etc., and I also know that when it is really crowded, certain men use the situation and move closer to women on purpose.
But especially last Sukkot, the whole separation was also used as a power declaration. The Toldot Aharon against it's split - off, the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak.
Gender separation in the narrow streets sometimes makes it difficult for families. On Erev Shabbat, hundreds of people are outside; families are going for a walk together and due to the separation, this will be a little difficult.