Monday, September 5, 2011

Pictures: The "Or HaChaim" Bookstore in Mea Shearim

B"H 

Last Friday, just a few minutes before Shabbat came in, the Sikarikim succeeded in destroying the shopwindow of the "Or HaChaim" bookstore whose owners belong to Chassidut Gur. The broken window could only be replaced after Shabbat. 

I went to Mea Shearim today and took a few photos of the bookstore. Before getting there, I purchased two books in my favourite store. Not the "Or Chaim" but a different one where the owner lets in all customers. I was wearing jeans but there was no fuss, no nothing. 

Further down in Mea Shearim Street is the location of the "Or HaChaim" store with its new shopwindows.


Mea Shearim Street towards the "Or HaChaim" bookstore.





Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

5 comments:

  1. Have you read this:

    http://matzav.com/sikrikim-sickos-vandalize-mannys-seforim-store-in-yerushalayim

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  2. Can you tell me why this store is being damaged?

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  3. B"H

    Two reasons:

    1. The store is owned by people belonging to Chassidut Gur. The chassidic groups owns the houses in a small neighbourhood nearby called "Beit Warsaw" but would like to demolish the houses and build a shopping mall instead. The tenants of the houses are upset that Gur may throw them out.

    2. The Sikarikim (a small group of fanatics) wants the store to put a modesty sign into the shopwindow. That only customers dressed modestly are allowed to enter. Furthermore, all English speaking books have to be removed.

    The shopowners made an agreement but, in the meantime, the shop has got attacked again, as there is still no modesty sign in the window.

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  4. the jerusalem post said that they attacked it also because of zionist books. that seems to make much more sense to me because there are many shops in mea shearim with english books.
    by the way, i love "or ha'chaim". i've been there on before shabbos and they're definitely the nicest guys in that area.

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  5. B"H

    This is what the Sikarikim assume; that OR HACHAIM is selling Zionist books, as the books in question are in English.

    I don't know if this is true, as it only may be rumour in order to justify forcing the store to get rid of its English books.

    ReplyDelete