The Celebrations start

B"H

Walking through Mea Shearim last night was more than interesting. First of all, I noticed the new Toldot Aharon Synagogue right next to their old one. The new building looks really posh I have to say. It is also supposed to be bigger, as, within the past years, the group grew. The Toldot Aharon are quite popular among Baalei Teshuva (born Jews who become religious later on in their lives). For whatever reason, many newly religious prefer looking for something extreme and join, for instance, the Toldot Aharon or Satmar.

Furthermore, the group grew within itself. Married couples have plenty of children. Due to their growth, the Toldot Aharon needed a larger Synagogue and here it is. As it looks at the moment, it may be ready or almost ready soon.

Turning into Mea Shearim Street, I noticed that again, the street is divided. The Edah HaCharedit is arranging the Mechitzah every Sukkot. At the local celebrations on Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days), the street is officially divided into genders every night. When you enter from Shivtei Israel Street, men walk on the right and women on the left side. The women's side is separated through a metal fence covered with white plastic which, from far away, looks like sheets.

Right in front of the Great Breslover Synagogue (across the Toldot Aharon), the Toldot Aharon set up a "modesty bridge". Just as they did last year but this time the bridge has covered side parts also looking like hanging sheets. However, it is the same white plastic covering the fence.

When you are female and planning to go to the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak on Chol HaMoed, you cannot pass the street in front of Breslov but have to walk around; either through the market or around the market - hence, in front of the Slonim building entering Avraham Yitzchak from the back.

Almost the same took place last year and I heard a rumour spreading that the Toldot Aharon set up the bridge on purpose. Women walk through the bridge - on the bottom and men walk over the top. However, women have to keep on going on Mea Shearim Street and only men are allowed to make the turn into the street in front of Breslov (leading into the Mea Shearim market).

Last year it was said that the Toldot Aharon started the whole bridge issue last year because they wanted to avoid that too many people go over to the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak. Call it a kind of competition or even "revenge".

But I have to admit that I don't know for sure if this rumour was true !

In general, it looks like Mea Shearim is getting more and more extreme. Modesty signs almost everywhere and many shops only let in customers dressed modestly. Pashkevilim (news posters) warn against immodest behaviour during Sukkot, as celebrating too much would lead to loose one's common sense. I expect that soon the Edah will not allow Christians walking around in the area. Thousands of Christians are in Jerusalem at the moment, as they are having a special parade this Tuesday. Many of them may walk around downtown and may come to Mea Shearim in order to missionize, as it happened in the past.

And, by the way, Christians have nothing to do at haredi celebrations anyway.