Business as usual at the OR HA'CHAIM bookstore in Mea Shearim

B"H

Do you still remember the dispute between the Or Ha'Chaim bookstore in Mea Shearim and some local Sikarikim ? The bookstore underwent a ban and its door was smashed. 

Since the beginning of opening the branch, Or Ha'Chaim started quite successfully. They sell Hebrew and English Sifrei Koidesh and I also went buying books a couple of times. Most of the other bookstores in the area either don't sell English books at all or they only offer a limited variety. Or Ha'Chaim, on the other hand, has anything and it should be a great source for any English speaking Yeshiva student. 

Among other things, the Sikarikim once complained about the missing Zniut inside the store as well as the English books. Most of the Sikarikim don't know any English and thus suspected the English Sifrei Koidesh to be too Zioini (Zionist). Afterwards I heard that Or Ha'Chaim eventually made an agreement and when I went to the store today, I was curious to find any changes. 

The truth is that the store itself is still the same and no one seems to complain anymore. Lots of books in English and Hebrew. Artscroll Siddurim, Machzorim, Selichot, whatever you want. Furthermore anything else such as Gerald Schroeder, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan z"l, Rabbi Me'ir Kahane z"l, women's issues, history books, Halacha, Torah, Talmud, Rabbi's biographies and Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik which I bought today. What you don't find at Or Ha'Chaim and what I don't miss anyway, books by and about Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. The hippie Rabbi looking for more and more female "secretaries" is not my cup of tea at all. I once heard that when Reb Shlomo came out of a Mea Shearim bookstore (not Or Ha'Chaim) some locals spit on him. I am not saying that this was right but I am simply not a Carlebacher !

As usual, English Sifrei Koidesh are much more expensive than Hebrew books and normally I do buy everything in Hebrew. However, it is nice having some great books in English too, but purchasing those books is an investment. 

When I went to the till, I noticed that there is a kind of gender separation while waiting to pay. This didn't bother me at all and I stood in line together with another woman. When I go there, I want to buy good books and I don't care where I have to stand. Not as long as I am getting the books I want. 

Today, the store was busy and I even spotted out some Toldot Aharon or Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Chassidim as customers. 

Mea Shearim Street towards the "Or Ha'Chaim" bookstore.

  

Or Ha'Chaim from the inside

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

Links: 

Sikarikim destroyed windows of bookstore OR HA'CHAIM in Mea Shearim

Or Ha'chaim bookstore made an agreement

The Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe in Boro Park and Rabbi Shmuel Pappenheim attacked in Beit Shemesh

B"H

The Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn visiting Boro Park / New York:

All photos HERE !

One commentator noticed that the location where the Tish is taking place is a wedding hall of Chassidut Bobov.

Whereas Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn is visiting New York, his younger brother, the Toldot Aharon Rebbe David Kahn, is being confronted with serious problems. The celebrity of Toldot Aharon, Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Pappenheim, got attacked by his own people last Erev Shabbat. Pappenheim entered the Toldot Aharon Synagogue of Beit Shemesh and was asked to leave by a group of "extremists". However, he refused and it all ended up in beating Shmuel Pappenheim. 

Last night, the Toldot Aharon Rebbe wanted to make a decision and obviously punish those Chassidim who beat Pappenheim. They are apparently not allowed to join community activities for a couple of months.

The reason for Pappenheim being attacked was an interview he gave to the left - wing paper "HAARETZ":

Yet winds of change are blowing even among the most fanatic camp. Once, former Eda Haredit spokesman Shmuel Pappenheim was frequently dispatched to represent the official, extreme anti-Zionist line and to defend his sect, Toldot Aharon. But Pappenheim, a Beit Shemesh resident, recently came out of the closet as a sworn reformist: He is studying for a degree at Bar-Ilan University and heads an office encouraging ultra-Orthodox employment in Beit Shemesh, on top of his other public activities. 

Pappenheim thinks that in the ultra-Orthodox's clash with outsiders, the extremists on both sides are failing to see the powerful processes underway in the ultra-Orthodox mainstream: The ultra-Orthodox are irreversibly opening up, he believes. 

 "This week I spoke before a Scout troop in Jerusalem, alongside a representative of Yisrael Hofshit [Be Free Israel, an organization that works to advance religious freedom and other democratic values], who denounced ultra-Orthodox extremism," says Pappenheim. "I told her she was missing the entire point. Israel's ultra-Orthodox public has begun to understand that it needs to take its fate into its hands. There are thousands of ultra-Orthodox in the army, in academia, in the free professions. Are they telling us we're in a religious war? On the contrary. The religious public is heading toward something great, and the rabbis' attempts to stop this are like the rooster running in circles after being beheaded.

"The Sicarii are acting out of frustration, not ideology, he says. "They see society around them progressing and are frustrated. They do not really think; they just act violently for the sake of causing action and chaos.

"Pappenheim believes the rabbis' attempts to turn back time are destined to fail. "I'm not seeing any students dropping out of ultra-Orthdox colleges" due to Rabbi Elyashiv's letter, he says. "That isn't going to help anymore. Maybe this is the rabbis' job, to try to stop the flow so that 16-year-old boys know their only aim in life is to study Torah, but this process is reality."

Pappenheim himself is being smeared by wall posters declaring, "Greeks have ganged up on us!" and draws condemnations from his extremist neighbors, but as the son of an aristocratic Toldot Aharon family, he retains access to the top. 

"A married yeshiva student from Toldot Avraham Hasidut is serving in Shahar [a prestigious Israel Defense Forces technology program for married yeshiva students]. Things are happening. I told my rebbe and he asked: 'What? Do you think our married yeshiva students will also be there?' I said it could happen. He said, 'Such a thing should not come to us,' and I told him that while his role may be to prevent it, this is the process. We need to understand this and not shut our eyes. He knows this well. A month ago President [Shimon] Peres visited [Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's daughter] Adina Bar-Shalom's ultra-Orthodox college in Jerusalem. In the first row were three married yeshiva students from Toldot Aharon.

"Conflicting changes Pappenheim's remarks show that the discussion about "growing ultra-Orthdox extremism" ignores the fact that this sector, like the national religious sector, is going through conflicting processes. The public at large is now noticing the modesty revolution, which includes the segregated buses, the "Taliban" women in black cloaks, the gender segregation at the health clinics in Beit Shemesh and the advertising companies' reluctance to post outdoor ads with pictures of women in Jerusalem, but it has been going on for years.

Please find the entire HAARETZ article HERE !

ISRAEL: The Role of the Gender Separation

B”H 

It is Chanukkah and we are supposed to commemorate and celebrate the miracle of the oil as well as the Maccabim beating the evil Greeks. Instead, Israel's secular press decided to lead a war against haredi society as a whole. No difference is being made between Haredim, Sikarikim, Neturei Karta or "Taliban" women. A Haredi is a Haredi and this is it ! They are all fanatics, hate women and yell at little girls. The Toldot Aharon Rebbe David Kahn compared the present media war against Haredim to the time of the Maccabim and their evil counterpart. Not the Greeks but the Hellenists (Jews would adopted Greek culture and religion). As a matter of fact, I have already had the same thought as the Rebbe. 

A Haredi commentating at a haredi forum wrote that the secular press obviously forgets that even the national religious girl Na’ama Margolis goes to a religious girl's school where no boys are allowed. The press needs headlines and haredi society sells well. Especially these days where the left - wing paper "Yediot Acharonot" needs more readers, as the free paper "Israel Hayom" has become a more than serious competitor. 

The female role is in danger because there is a gender separation in Jewish Orthodoxy. However, why do Orthodox men demand a gender separation ? In a Synagogue, for instance ? The reason seems to be of hardly any meaning but, as a matter of fact, there is a meaning. To me, it sometimes does seem a bit awkward and exaggerated. I have nothing against any separation at a Synagogue but, for me, it is enough when two men or women sit together on a bus. It doesn't mean that the entire bus has to undergo a separation process. 

It is known that men apparently cannot control themselves as well as women and thus, women have to behave in order not to arise the male negative side (Yetzer HaRah). This is why women need do be separated. That men don't start starring at them and get immodest thoughts. 

Regarding the present chaos in Beit Shemesh: A few years ago I was invited at friend's for a Shabbat. Chassidim and they explained me how seculars as well as the national religious neighbours keep on provoking the haredi population. On the other hand, it is a majority of Haredim freaking out in such a negative manner. The Sikarikim are trying to gain more power and even threaten their haredi neighbours. Just look at the case of the “Or HaChaim” in Mea Shearim. 

It is impossible to say THE haredi population because haredi society is divided into more than 100 directions or groups. Who is a haredi and what kind of ideology is behind chassidic groups, the Litvish or some undefinable black hats ? 

As long as my own life is not being limited, I don't care about a gender separation in Beit Shemesh. Nevertheless, I do feel sorry for those Haredim being threatened by the Sikarikim. Another question is whether secular Israelis treat women much better than haredi society ? Reality is that women are discriminated when it comes to jobs, salaries and having a career.In case where a woman is running a company, the male business partner mostly asks for the real owner, as he is expecting a man sitting there to deal with and not a woman. 

A further thought: Has anyone ever spoken to haredi women and asked them for their opinion on the issue ? Do they all feel disciminated or is it just the worldly liberal ideology turning them into victims ?

Modesty War in Beit Shemesh

B”H 

A few days ago, the 8 – year – old national religious girl Na’ama Margolis was attacked by Haredim who started yelling at her. The girl’s behaviour and clothing weren’t too appropriate. Since, the national religious movement as well as the secular press have been running wild. It seems to become a fashion accusing the entire haredi society and the national religious like using the opportunity of pointing out how "great" they are. Finally they can feel so liberal and understanding compared to all those "fanatic" Haredim. 

I am not yet going deeper into the subject and will do so in a separate article later on at night. 

Na'ama Margolis

Photo: Kikar Shabbat

In the meantime some further news: The Beit Shemesh Municipality, Mayor Moshe Abutbul together with the police decided putting up some 400 security cameras in the streets. Also around the national religious girls’s school “Orot Banot” where Na’ama Margolis studies. 

Yesterday, the Municipality decided to take down any signs in public streets saying that men and women should not gather together. The following night, various Haredim again hung up those signs. The haredi part of the town is going wild, as more and more Israeli TV stations keep on streaming in taking pictures of Haredim. However, the Haredim of Beit Shemesh claim that it is only a few nutties from the Sikariki group causing trouble. 

Here are some photos from a Toldot Avraham Yitzchak Beit Midrash and a modesty sign right in its front asking women to use the other side of the road. 

Women are being asked not to gather at this place.

Beit Midrash of Chassidut Toldot Avraham Yitzchak in Beit Shemesh

The modesty sign in front of the Beit Midrash.

Actually I was surprised and keep on asking myself whether the sign was set up by the chassidic group itself or by the Sikarikim.

See all photos HERE !

The Edah HaCharedit demonstrating at the house of Yoelish Kroisz

B"H

Everyone ready for a great laugh ? Then watch the video in this article. Last night, the Edah HaCharedit was demonstrating in front of the house of the local Mea Shearim Neturei Karta leader Yoelish Kroisz. Reason: Kroisz supports the Jewish "Taliban" women who the Israeli press calls "Women with the Shawls". 

I think it is very funny seeing Mrs Kroisz throwing water at the demonstrators. And, by the way, who is Yoelish calling on his cellphone ? The Zionist police ?

The entrance to his Beit Midrash shows some security guys without Kipot and some are hiding their faces. Police or a private security service ?

The Sikariki Yosef Me'ir Chazan got arrested yesterday

The OR HACHAIM bookstore in Mea Shearim

B"H

Remember the fuss between the Sikarikim and the Mea Shearim bookstore OR HACHAIM ?  The Sikarikim demanded from the shop owners who are Gerrer Chassidim, to put a modesty sign into the shopwindow. Furthermore, all English books (including ARTSCROLL editions) were supposed to disappear, as the Sikarikim suspected English books containing Zionist content. After all kinds of vandalism, the bookstore made an agreement with the Sikarikim. However, no modesty sign has been set up and the store is still selling English books. Just recently, the Sikarikim started a new attack on the shop and, later on, one of the Sikarikim, Shalom Baruch Rost, got arrested in Bnei Brak. Rost lives in Mea Shearim and seems to be known for his violence against certain bookstores. Among others, the OR HACHAIM store in his own neighbourhood. 

 

The Sikariki getting arrested

Today, I went to the bookstore with a friend and everything seems to be normal from the outside. There is still no modesty sign in the window and I walked in wearing jeans. No one said a word or even bothered. OR HACHAIM was quite full and English ARTSCROLL books were available all over the place. My friend was looking for a Sukkot Machzor but eventually bought an English edition about Rabbi Eliezer Schach. I chose the Iggeret of the Ramban and a totally frum calendar. 

It is a very nice book store with reasonable prices. Lots of Anglo Yeshiva customers as well as seminary girls. If you walk in and are looking for a specific book, one of the sales people is American and thus is able to help you in English. The service is friendly and I didn't see anything immodest going on. OR HACHAIM is simply a very nice bookstore with a great variety of Sifrei Koidesh. Nothing to worry about and I am definitely going back. 

Here are some pictures from today:

The bookstore from the outside

  

OR HACHAIM from the inside

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Links: 

Sikarikim destroyed windows of bookstore OR HACHAIM in Mea Shearim

OR HACHAIM Made an agreement with the Sikarikim

Pictures of the OR HACHAIM bookstore in Mea Shearim

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

The "Or HaChaim" Bookstore made an agreement with the Sikarikim

B"H

After the shop window was destroyed only a short time before Shabbat came in, the owners of the bookstore "Or HaChaim" in Mea Shearim made an agreement with the local Sikarikim and this sounds like a bad decision. I will be in Jerusalem tomorrow and I am planning to go to "Or HaChaim", take a few photos and maybe go inside and look around if I find a nice book to buy. It may be last chance entering with my "immodest" clothes because soon the bookstore is going to have a "Zniut - Modesty" sign hanging outside. Entrance only in modest clothes ! No more "panty" women like me. 

A further agreement with the Sikarikim: A special Sikariki "Purity Committee" is going to check the purity of the books sold in the bookstore. Until now, the shop owners had refused hanging up a modesty sign or letting their books check; now they agreed in order to avoid further trouble and destruction. This is a bad sign giving in to the Sikarikim, as other threats will follow. The extremists consider themselves as the winner of the dispute and thus have been gaining more self - confidence.

Sikarikim destroyed windows of bookstore "Or HaChaim"

B"H

Actually I am planning to go to the "Or HaChaim" bookstore in Mea Shearim an take a look around. The store has been attacked by local Sikarikim for quite a while and, this time, they succeeded. Yesterday, shortly before Shabbat, the Sikarikim destroyed the windows of the bookstore. The owners of the store were not able to fix anything, as Shabbat came in. The haredi site "Kikar.Net" reports that many Mea Shearim residents arrived on Shabbat to have a curious look at the damage.

How can anyone do this in the month of Elul ?

Nevertheless, I will take a look at the bookstore in a few days ...

Yoel, Israel & Pashkavills

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

The Sikarikim in Mea Shearim

Yoelish Kroisz from the Neturei Karta and Sikariki himself is anything but a popular person in Mea Shearim.The message of the video is that different Mea Shearim inhabitants have becmme more violent in their actions.

I think it has something to do with the recent attitude that many Haredim just want to be better and stricter in their Halachot and Tikun Olam than others. Halachot, Halachot but the question is if G - d accepts such a behaviour and whether these people who want to be so holy don't rather cause a "Chilul Hasham - Desecration of G - d's name".

Mea Shearim: The Sikarikim in Action

B"H

Less than a month ago, the haredi site KIKAR.NET published a video recorded by the security camera of the bookstore "Or HaChaim". You can see a guy first trying to break in and, later on, he is destroying the glass door.

To me, the guy somehow looks Chabad with his Kneitsch in the hat but I may be wrong. I heard that the store is owned by Gerrer Chassidim and Mea Shearim is not too excited about Chassidut Gur. 

Link:

Photos from Beit Warsha

Gender Separation: Female Fish & Male Fish

B"H

It seems that many Haredim just want to show that they are better than others. Stricter, keeping more Mitzvot and thus serving G - d with the greatest Kavanah (Intention) ever.

The Mea Shearim Sikarikim have been threatening local shopkeepers for quite some time. Stores should have a gender separation or only be allowed either for men or women. Now one owner of a fish store introduced gender separation in his place. "Without force but because G - d wants it !" - he claimed. The shop can be found in Jerusalem's Buchari neighbourhood near the Ge'ulah neighbourhood.

Ironic comments on a haredi forum suggested to separate the fish too. Mr and Mrs Fish neither should lay together in a freezer nor be sold wrapped in one plastic bag, as this is immodest.

Sikarikim against Jerusalem Technology Park

B"H

For those who are not too familiar with Jerusalem:

The haredi neighbourhood Sanhedria has been surrounded by a new neighbourhood. Already a while ago, the Har Chotzvim Technology Park has been extending it's area. Hightech companies and anything connected to computers.

Now some Haredim, apparently with a Sikariki ideology, have been trying to get rid of Jerusalem's hightech companies because they still look at computers as a danger. Especially when hightech companies start building near haredi neighbourhoods.

It seems that those Haredim have missed realizing today's reality. A few years ago, I had some business to do in Har Chotzvim and was surprised how many Haredim work at the computer companies. Especially American Haredim. No matter if male or female, everyone was just there working.

So, are those demonstrators trying to make their own people unemployed ?

Sikarikim against a Toldot Aharon Chassid

B"H

Some Sikarikim (Neturei Karta) screaming "Sheygetz (Goi)" at a passing Toldot Aharon Chassid.

Why ?

Chassidut Toldot Aharon and the Neturei Karta are not that friendly with each other. First of all they have different opinions about the interpretation of anti - Zionism and, secondly, there may be a kind of competition, as one of the two Neturei Karta heads in Mea Shearim, Yoel Kroisz, was born into the Toldot Aharon but left and, obviously, found a better job.

Sikarikim attacked Yeshiva Student in Beit Warsha

B"H

Sikarikim attacked a Yeshiva student and his wife living in Beit Warsha (Warzaw House). Why ? 

The haredi website KIKAR SHABBAT doesn't tell us.

Who are those Sikarikim attacking the family ?

Beit Warsha is located right next to Kikar Shabbat; at the border between Ge'ulah and Mea Shearim. The small neighbourhood belongs to Chassidut Gur and the Gerrer want all tenants out in order to build a shopping mall on the spot. There are many Chassidim among the tenants whose groups are members of  the Edah HaCharedit and some of those families have already been thrown out. Gur called the police and the cops threw the families out of their flats in Beit Warsha. Reason: They hadn't paid their rent for a few months and Chassidut Gur kicked them out. 

Beit Warsha

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Now another incident happened and the war in Beit Warsha continues. Generally some identify the Sikarikim mainly with Yoelish Kroisz branch of the Neturei Karta but I don't know which Sikarikim destroyed the home of the Yeshiva student. 

All photos HERE !

The son just becomes like his Father

B"H

Yoelish Kroisz' son is only 15 years old but has already succeeded in having a crime record.

We all know Yoelish Kroisz as the head of Jerusalem's Neturei Karta branch located in Mea Shearim. A smaller branch located nearby is the freaky Neturei Karta group of Rabbi Israel Hirsch, the son of Rabbi Moshe Hirsh (who passed away some months ago).

Haredi websites are reporting that Yoelish Kroisz' teenage son got arrested and was taken for investigation to the police station at Jerusalem's Russian Compound. He is accused of being a member of the weirdo fanatic Sikarikim group. 

The Sikarikim became famous due to threatening the Mea Shearim haredi population and attacking a Knesset member of the National Religious Party while he was visiting the neighbourhood.

I have no idea whether Kroisz is proud of his son. A 15 - year - old who is not ashamed of threatening other people although he himself has no clue about life. Further people arrested: A 12 - year - old and a 14 - year - old.

A bunch of Mea Shearim kids playing "Sikarikim" but calling themselves "religious".

Jerusalem cops dress up as Haredim

B"H

The leftist daily "Yediot Acharonot" proudly presents the latest police action: 

Some Jerusalem cops would dress up as Haredim, walk through Mea Shearim and thus searching for haredi criminals. My first thought was that the Mea Shearim know each other and wouldn't trust anyone new coming from the outside. The first question Haredim usually ask is about Jewish background. To claim that you belong to Satmar or Toldot Aharon would be impossible. They all know each other and if not, they keep on inquiring about your family and who is related to whom. Furthermore one needs to know Yiddish and has to behave like a Haredi. 

An undercover cop may claim to be a newly Baal Teshuva and all kinds of invented stories but born Haredim don't see any reason informing such a person about their private life. Who is who and what is going on, those kind of information only belong to insiders and unless you haven't lived in Mea Shearim for years, you will never gain too much. The same with me as dressing up as a Palestinian, for instance.

However, four undercover cops dressed up as Haredim have caught one of the fanatic Sikarikim who made an attempt to attack a national religious Knesset politican coming to pray into the neighbourhood. It is not a good thing to attack anyone but I have to say that Mr. Katzele from the National Religious Party is just going wild about the Sikarikim. Not unusual for someone national religious, as many of them don't like any Haredim. And Katzele uses the opporunity. 

I am not justifying the violence of certain Sikarikim but there should be a limit of how the police reacts. Declare war to all inhabitants of Mea Shearim just because a Katzele is freaking out and leading his own private war ?

The Sikariki Avraham Cheshin was caught and I must admit that I have never heard about him before. Cheshin / Chashin, is he Ashkenazi at all ? Now he is under house arrest and waiting for further investigation.

On the other hand, there is definitely some violence going on in Mea Shearim. Just as in every other neighbourhood and society. The only difference may be that the locals of the ultra - Orthodox neighbourhood keep quiet and don't call the (Zionist) police. I am not talking about Sikariki violence but what about child abuse, drugs or domestic violence ? The people involved may ask their Rabbis for advice but none of them would ever inform the police unless a murder happens.

Sending undercover cops is not the best idea and may lead to unnecessary suspicion. When I go for a Tish and ask a question, chassidic group members may already suspect me of being a spy. However, I don't have a proper solution to offer. Sometimes it may be ridiculous sending in undercover cops dressed up as Haredim. And there are other times when it could be useful discovering some cases of secret domestic violence going on in the hood.

No Simchat Beit HaShoeva in Mea Shearim ?

B"H

Haredi Internet sites are reporting about an agreement between Mea Shearim's Sikarikim ( crazy fundamentalist) and certain chassidic groups. There are "rumours" or "true reports" that some chassidic groups have canceled their Simchat Beit HaShoeva celebrations because their youth would fall into misbehaviour. Only women of the Toldot Aharon and Breslov are allowed into their Synagogues during Sukkot. Chassidut Toldot Avraham Yitzchak canceled its Simchat Beit HaShoeva and "only" celebrates a new Torah scroll. In other words "Only Men are allowed in".
The Toldot Aharon are even handing out entrance tickets to their members.
Meaning: I cannot dress up as a TA woman in order to get in ! :-))))

What is happening with Mea Shearim ? Does even the Toldot Aharon Rebbe let the Sikarikim dictate everything ?

Anyway, I will try my best to walk through Mea Shearim, make some photos and see if the "Modesty Bridge" from the Toldot Aharon is around again ! If anyone throws me out, so I am kicked out. What can I do ? :-))))