Jerusalem by Night

The rebuilt HURVAH - Synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City

The expensive MAMILLA MALL between Jaffa Gate / Old City and Jaffa Road.

At 2.00am in Jaffa Road / Downtown Jerusalem. You may get the impression that there is still lots of action going on but one should be careful at this time: Drugs and alcohol are very common among younger people such as Yeshiva students as well the the local KIKARISTIM (Young drug addicts and homeless youth hanging around at various places downtown. Many of them are actually Off - the - Derech kids with haredi background). 

 Photos: Miriam Woelke

Sunday, 11 Dec. 2011: Demonstration against Africans in Tel Aviv

B"H

If you are in Tel Aviv, please join tomorrow's demonstration against illegal Africans in Israel !!!

Where: Levinsky Park across the Central Bus Station.

When: 6pm

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2011/12/tel-avivs-mayor-against-thousands-of.html

The xmas business in Israel

B"H

The month of Kislev has just begun and maybe I should write something more positive. Publishing the following story doesn't mean that I am negative. I am definitely not but I think that Jews should know what is going on in our country. We have to become more aware of our Jewish identity but, unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many secular Israelis love pretending to be just like the other nations. They are sick of Judaism and Rabbis telling them about a Jewish soul and all this religious stuff. "Let us be like all the others and thus kill anti - Semitism !"

The only thing is that anti - Semitism will always exist. Until Meshiach comes and there is nothing what Jews can do. Even if they think celebrating xmas and having a tree would bring them closer to the nations. 

xmas is coming up and, while passing Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station yesterday, I noticed all those annual stands selling xmas items. Santas, trees and all kinds of other Kitsch. These stands are mainly run by Russians and it is Russians buying the products as well as Philippinas working in Israel. On the other hand, many Israeli Jews come and buy. Hundreds of Israelis like celebrating xmas claiming not to celebrate the actual xtian event but enjoying a cozy atmosphere and the decorated tree. No one wants to hear about idol - worship but people see it as a nice event with good food, without any religion involved. But have a look for yourself:

Tel Aviv Central Bus Station: The annual xmas market taking place.

Photos: Miriam Woelke

November 2011: 2464 illegal Africans infiltrated into Israel

African Junkies at the old Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv

Africans waiting for odd job offers across the new Central Bus Station, at the Levinsky Park.

 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

B”H  

The figures are frightening and I have been reporting for a long time about thousands of illegal Africans entering Israel. The illegals are infiltrating into Israel through the border to Egypt where Bedouins squeeze large sums out of them. Once they reach Israel, they disappear in cities like Eilat and Tel Aviv. The latter already has two huge African ghettos around the Central Bus Station. The crime rate has risen drastically, as the Africans steal and deal with drugs. 

Only in November 2011, 2464 further Africans have infiltrated into Israel. Most of them from Eritrea and Sudan. Since January this year, 13,410 illegal Africans have settled in our country. They live with twenty other people in one apartment, work as dishwashers or cleaners and, unfortunately, too many Israels keep on using them. Landlords ask for a 15,000 Shekel rent and this is the reason why the Africans share their apartments with so many people. 

The illegals have their own mobile phone and bicyle market. Stolen items which are being sold among each other. Today, you will hardly find any African not riding on an expensive bike or using a smartphone.


The article on Ma’ariv Online is written in Hebrew only !

Further Link:

War Zone Finn Street

Manuel Trachtenberg and his social justice solutions

B”H 

Professor Manuel Trachtenberg and his committee have now published their first proposals in order to solve the present severe social problems in Israel. 

Not enough affordable places to live, education (whether schools and universities) is too expensive, let alone the extreme prices for groceries. Two months ago, the social uproar in Israel began. First, a Haredi from Bnei Brak started a Facebook group. On the social network he protested against the exaggerated cottage cheese prices. Within less than a year, prices for dairy products have been just exploding. 

Based on the Haredi's success, Israel’s extreme left got the idea to even start a bigger protest. Left – wing organizations saw their political chance to overthrow the government by focusing on social matters. Thus, the first tent demonstration at Rothschild Boulevard / Tel Aviv came into existence. 

Although most protestors of the hundreds of thousands were not leftists at all, social issues concern all of us. Netanyahu reacted a bit despite the fact that he is not interested in ordinary citizens and their problems. He appointed the Argentinian born economy professor Manuel Trachtenberg as the head of a committee researching social matters and how to solve them. Whether Netanyahu agrees or doesn’t do anything in the end, is up to him. Trachtenberg only does his job by suggesting certain chances. Parts of the committee's plan were published today and, as expected, the extreme left announces that all of Trachtenberg’s points are not acceptable. 

For instance, he suggested that 250,000 apartments will be build within the next five years. Owners of empty and abandoned houses have to pay a higher tax on their property. Special parts of education should be for free. 

Who would be paying for all of this ? The tax payer, of course. Furthermore, a three billion budget cut in the Ministry of Defence. The lobbyists have already started their jobs and the army claims that the Iron Dome around Beersheva or Ashkelon could not work with a severe budget cut. However, one issue is very clear: The last tents at Rothschild Boulevard will be evicted next Sunday (after Rosh Hashana). 

This morning I went to Rothschild Boulevard and these may be the last photos of the remaining tent demonstration:

The tent protest is over, the fight begins.

Half of Rothschild Boulevard has already been cleaned up

Photos 26 September 2011: Miriam Woelke

The BIALIK - ROGOZIN SCHOOL in Tel Aviv

B"H

The BIALIK - ROGOZIN SCHOOL in HaAliyah Street in Tel Aviv - South has about 750 students from which most of the children are not Israelis. A high percentage of foreign worker kids study at Bialik as well as many Russians. 

Ordinary parents from Tel Aviv wouldn't send their children to this school because it is located in a poor area and so are most of the students. Secondly, most students are struggling with their Hebrew, are illegal in the country and of Philippines, African or South American origin. Or in other words, the vast majority of the children is not Jewish. 

It is necessary that such a school exists but school and parents should teach the children that they are strangers in Israel and that there will be a time to return to their home countries. Israel is a small country calling itself Jewish. I am not a Kahane follower and thus say that Arabs can remain in Israel and don't need to get deported to Jordan or elsewhere. However, I do fully agree with Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad saying that when the Palestinians want to stay in Israel, they have to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. They must keep Israeli law and refrain from terror. On the other hand, they are free practicing their religion and live their lives but they have to accept Israeli law. 

However, I don't see any reason why a foreign worker should be allowed to stay in Israel for longer than three - five years. They can but on a limited visa basis and always the return to their home countries on their minds. Telling their children that Israel is a temporary place. Today we all may feel sorry for them and their children but, in the long run, we will terribly regret, letting them stay and spreading. Israel is a Jewish country and has to remain a Jewish country. 

I think that I can make such a claim, as I grew up in Germany where today, Germans suffer from the mistakes of letting too many Muslims (especially Turks) into their country. The last Muslim generation growing up in Germany has been partly becoming a threat to the country, as they found their way into radical Islam. 

Israel should never loose its Jewish identity and grant Gentile foreigners citizenship or visa renewals for years. Especially not because the foreign workers as well as their children live in their small ghetto and don't want to be part of Israeli society. The children may say so but, in the end, they will get frustrated, as Israeli society doesn't want them either. 

The Bialik - Rogozin School from the outside.

 Photos September 2011: Miriam Woelke

Beggar at Jerusalem's Central Bus Station

Photo: Miriam Woelke

The Demonstration at Rothschild Boulevard: "What the media doesn't tell you"

B”H

At least once a week I am going to Rothschild Boulevard in order to see what's new at the tent demonstration against high rents and cost of living. By the way, so far, Tel Aviv's landlords are not impressed by all the mass demonstrations and no rent whatsoever has been lowered. Just the opposite: The demand for housing in Tel Aviv is extremely high, as there are jobs around the coastal area. People living in Jerusalem don't have such a big variety of jobs opportunities and especially not the higher salary paid in Tel Aviv. 


It may be a little unfair that I am always visiting the demonstration at Rothschild Boulevard, as there are various others such as in Florentin, at the Central Bus Station, in Shechunat HaTikvah, at the Ben Gurion as well as the Nordau Boulevard. However, the seven people in charge of the demonstrations reside in the Rothschild tents. Although I am not sure whether they really stay there overnight. 


Just a few days ago, an online news site reported that those seven walk around with their iPhones, take taxis to Shimon Peres' residence in Jerusalem and behave like movie stars. 
The report reminded me of a previous tent demonstration taking place about eight years ago. Then the single mother Vicky Knafo and further single mothers were demonstrating in front of the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem. And guess who was the finance minister ?
Prime Minister was Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu was his Finance Minister !


From the beginning, the single mother tent demonstration was sponsored by a left - wing organization called SHATIL. Shatil's main goal is to knock out Netanyahu, as we still see at the present demonstration. However, eight years ago, Vicky Knafo became a media star. The simple uneducated woman from Mitzpe Ramon found herself in the limelight and enjoyed herself too much. The poor version of "Madonna", so to speak. But suddenly, Vicky had a new cellphone. Obviously provided by Shatil. She received paid taxis to the broadcasting companies. Paid by Shatil. When the other demonstrators threw her out for a week or two (because Vicky had taken too much cash for herself from the demonstration fund), a Shatil employee gave her shelter in his private apartment located in the Rehavia neighbourhood. This is why I am not surprised at all when the seven present heads of the demonstrations run around with iPhones and love taxi rides. 


From what I witnessed today, the Rothschild demonstrators and the media have become best friends. They know each others names, say HELLO and, without any doubt, the head demonstrators love the cameras and the attention. No wonder that one of the ordinary demonstrators bursted out last Friday. "The seven self - appointed leaders would just show off, put themselves in front of any camera, talk nonsense and nothing has been achieved so far !" The guy saying this is right. 

 

What no political Agenda ?
 

 
I took the photos on 15 August 2011.

Copyright / Photos: Miriam Woelke

The "secret" Tent Demonstration in Tel Aviv

B”H

Further mass demonstrations against high rent and cost of living are taking place tonight. The main event is going to be in Beersheva so that opponents cannot claim that all protest comes from Tel Aviv. The demonstrators want to make a point and let Netanyahu know that the entire country demands social justice. In order to attract more people, left - wing organizers turn the demonstrations into a Woodstock festival where famous Israeli popstars perform. Shlomo Artzi, Shiri Maimon and now the Sephardi Kitsch singer Eyal Golan. Maybe the English looters should take over the Israeli idea and get some popstars involved.:-)

The demonstrators are anxious getting publicity but a few days ago, I passed a kind of "secret" demonstration where the participants were not too excited getting their pictures taken by me. The leftists got a bunch of illegal Africans together and set up some tents at Levinsky Parks across Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station. In Israel, even ILLEGALS demand their rights ! Citizenship, financial support ... and if we don't do it, we are Nazis and racists. 

What those illegal Africans need is immediate deportation and no tent !

 For a few years, Africans have been populating the Levinsky Park. Hanging around, dealing with drugs, theft or running to the prostitutes. The entire area around the Central Bus Station has become "Little Africa". 

African tent demonstration.

 

A member of the left - wing organizers (looks like from the SHATIL group) is singing to African children. 

Link:

War Zone Finn Street

A young Haredi and his sexual Depression

B”H

Twice or three times a month he sneaks into this anonymous place in Tel Aviv. Outside, in the streets, he usually snatches one of the free pornographic magazines laying around everywhere and quickly puts it into his pocket. A Haredi shouldn’t do this; follow his Yetzer HaRah and grab dirty magazines in the street. Not in public where everyone can see it. But who cares in a city like Tel Aviv where absolutely nothing seems to be unusual ?

On the other hand, he cannot help it. The feeling appears like an obsession and he is unable to stop it. He goes into the place and looks through the magazine. Not to look at the photos but to search for prostitute phone numbers. 

“Should he ? Should he not ?”

Again he goes outside. Maybe a prostitute is offering her services in the street. He wishes she would come up to him and just ask if he is desperate but none of the ladies shows up. 

Again he goes inside, ashamed of himself but starring at the hooker numbers.

Time is up and he has to pay the place for another hour. 

He walks outside, he goes inside and is starring at the magazine.

“Should he phone one of the prostitutes ?”

He is ashamed and, in the end, he pays for three hours without satisfying his sexual desires. Did he overcome his Yetzer HaRah ?

In two weeks, he will be back …

"Making a Point ?" - A foreign worker couple camping next to Tel Aviv's "Beit Ariella"

B"H

Are they making a point or just escaping immigration police ? Is there any hope that their campaigne may gain them temporary residency or even Israeli citizenship ?

At least for a couple of weeks, a foreign worker couple (Nepalese ?) has been "living" outside Tel Aviv's public library "Beit Ariella" at Shaul HaMelech Boulevard. Thousands of people are passing by every day, as the building is located right across Israel's Defense Ministry and next to a local court as well as Ichilov Hospital. Usually the crowd passing doesn't pay any attention to the cardboard boxes and loose mattresses laying near the Beit Ariella outside wall. When it is not raining you can see a young Nepalese ? couple sitting behind the cardboard. They even do their laundry there and hang it to dry into the trees.

"Beit Ariella" from the outside. You can find the cardboard boxes right behind the wall under the trees.

Cardboard and mattresses, the home of a young foreign worker couple.

Tel Aviv's thousands of foreign workers would never dare living in such a public place, as they are too afraid of the immigration police "OZ". Most foreign workers such as Africans, Philippinas or Eastern Europeans stay with friends if they don't have their own place to live. One Philippina or African comes along, rents a room and after three days, 15 more Philippinas or Africans move in. This is the way it usully works. 

Tel Aviv is a liberal city and maybe the Nepalese ? couple is hoping that the left - wing weekly "Ha'Ir - The City" may write an article about them and thus, give a hint to the mayor that the couple needs his help. However, in the meantime, no one passing by is really interested. The reason probably is that even the liberals in Tel Aviv are sick of the foreign worker problem. 

There are enough Israelis living in the street and the authorities should first take care of them instead of paying attention to every single, mostly illegal, foreign worker. Israel is a small country and doesn't even have the capacity helping its own citizens.

Tel Aviv is turning into Africa

TEL AVIV 2010

Article: Vos iz Neias

Good and bad News about African Refugees in Israel

B"H

Ynet has some good news about an African refugee living in Israel. The guy studying and getting higher education is a big exception in our country.
Thousands of  Africans from Nigeria, Sudan, Kenia or Eritrea have been infiltrating into Israel. Illegally crossing the border from Egypt to Israel. Every day, about 70 new illegal Africans are arriving in Israel. Some of them are caught by Israel's border police and imprisoned. However, the majority of Africans infiltrates and moves to Eilat, Ashdod, Arad or Tel Aviv. 

Eilat, located at the Red Sea, is a tourist place and most of the Africans find cleaning jobs in the hotel industry. Illegal and without any rights. Israeli employers just use their cheap labour but the Africans are happy to have a job. 

Most Africans settle in Tel Aviv where they can easily escape from the immigration police. They live around the Central Bus Station. Some of them work as cleaners but many of them are involved in crime. Stealing, drug dealing and I saw a young African being the "boss" of an Israeli prostitute (a teenage drug addict). 

Israel's government wants to build a wall around the Egyptian border in order to keep the Africans out. So far, nothing is happening and I don't think that there will be anything happening. Eilat's hotels have already threatened the government by saying that if the Africans are getting deported, they are going to close down the hotels. Why ?
Because Israeli hotel managers don't want to deal with Israeli workers and prefer the cheap African labour. Foreign workers, no matter, whether from the Philippines or Africa, has become a huge economy of its own and too many Israeli celebreties are involved. Tel Aviv's rich don't want to live without a Philippina cleaner anymore. Hotels, beaches and restaurant rely on African cleaners. Israeli and Palestinian workers have rights and demand at least a minimum wage. Africans don't care and even work for 10 Shekels (3 Dollar) per hour. The hotel industry in Eilat and at the Dead Sea totally relies on African workers. Israelis are not wanted anymore.

The question is how long the Israeli government wants to continue passively helping the Africans to infiltrate. Are we Jews soon going to be a minority in our won country ? A quarter of Tel Aviv's population already consists of foreign workers.  
Unfortunately, foreign worker children have been accepted into the army ? Guys from Kenia or Nigeria are already serving in the IDF. I don't know about you but to me this sounds like a nightmare ! 


Further Link:

WAR ZONE Finn Street

When Modesty becomes a Pain

B"H

On Sunday morning, I took a state - owned EGGED bus from Safed back to Jerusalem. The ride usually takes about 3,5 hours with a 15 minutes break inbetween; somewhere at a gas station including some shopping opportunities outside Afula.

The bus wasn't too crowded when we left the central bus station in Safed at 11.03am but filled up slowly as soon as the bus stopped at further stops inside Safed. At the last stop, a haredi woman got on with her 5000 children. Immediately she started looking for "kosher" seats. The bus was anything but divided into gender seating but she asked everyone to move so that her children could sit next to the appropriate gender. The girls next to women and the boys next to males.

The passengers got upset and refused to move. Especially after noticing that the haredi woman didn't care about everyone else's modesty but rather of her own. She asked secular Jews to move (women to men) but just to ensure the modest seats of her own family.

I found this behaviour more than rude. 

Are secular or other non - haredi Jews less than Haredim ? Don't we have a right of sitting where we want ? I f I don't want to sit next to a guy, I don't have to be haredi do make such a decision. What if I am just a simple Jew but don't want to sit next to men on a bus because I am not comfortable with being so close ?

The same haredi behaviour at our bakery: People come knocking on the door when we already closed for Shabbat. "I need Challot (Shabbat bread), I am hungry !"

Many Haredim just don't care about anybody else but only about their own Mitzvot ! However, those "Mitzvot" won't be too accepted and only fire back at the person behaving in such a manner.

I seriously hope that people may change after Yom Kippur !

Eli Yishai versus Foreign Worker Children

B"H


The Israeli Minister of the Interior, Eli Yishai, is justifying his decision of deporting many children of Israel's foreign workers. I totally support Yishai and anyone who is so much in favour of the foreign workers should consider a few more issues and especially look into the future:


1. In case they and their kids stay and receive citizenship:
Thousands of foreign workers will then be on the dole.


2. What Israel gets is mainly uneducated people.


3. In case they receive citizenship:
Thousands of foreign workers will then ask their families to follow them to Israel. Our country will be flooded with people who have absolutely no busienss in Israel.


4. Just because the foreign worker children grow up speaking Hebrew doesn't make them to Israelis ! Israel's foreign workers have NO intention whatsoever integrating into society let alone convert to Judaism. All they are looking for is a better economical life in order to escape poverty in Africa, Thailand, China, Russia or the Philippines.


5. Importing more and more Gentiles is a spiritual danger to the State of Israel !


6. Those who are still in favour:
Why don't you move to south Tel Aviv or adopt a foreign worker into YOUR home ? Not only talking in favour of them but actually do something and accept them into YOUR own neighbourhood !




Further Links:


Daily Life in South Tel Aviv


Foreign Workers stream into Israel

Traitor becomes a Muslim

B"H

Tali Fachimah ?
In Israel, the name Tali Fachimah stands for one of the most famous national JEWISH traitors of our times. Besides Mordechai (converted Christian atomic spy) Vanunu or Anat (I take pictures of your secrets) Kamm.

For years, Tali Fachimah has been fighting Israel and trying to join the Palestianian people. Even Israel's left gave up when asking her to join them. Tali is a loner and totally out of her mind. One of those sitting alone in a room, having no friends and dreaming about a better and more extreme life.

Photo: Ynet


Now she became a Muslim and lives among the "suffering" Palestinians. Her next goal is Mekka and then finding a nice Muslim husband. Maybe she should get the phone number of YAD LE'ACHIM in case her Muslim husband will beat the "sh.." out of her.:-)


Details: Arutz 7

Shabbat Shalom

B"H

"Chodesh Tov - Have a great new month !" - to everyone. Today is Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the beginning of the new Jewish month Sivan.
A Rosh Chodesh can also stand for a new beginning in life; so, lets begin something and get prepared for Shavuot. Despite that I am tired and think about hanging around lazy at the beach in Tel Aviv.

Sunny weather in Tel Aviv (in Jerusalem as well) and I am soon going to back for Jerusalem. Meeting a Shearim reader from New York and taking him to some chassidic Tishes.

A few days ago, I heard the typical Israeli discussion about "whether Haredim should go to work and not study the whole day". The Israeli press this subject and actually the discussion took place on a haredi radio channel. The radio guy was so much in favour of Haredim not working. It was unbelievable.

The person he was interviewing was a Knesset member from the Sephardi haredi SHASS party who said that a Haredi who doesn't fit into the Yeshiva / Kollel frame should take the consequences and go to work. The radio guy almost freaked.

I think it is a typical Israeli issue, as most Haredi (I suppose) in the US or England go to work. There the state is not paying welfare for people who only study and you have to earn your living.

The Shass politician was right. In Israel, you have countless of young Haredim who just don't fit into a Yeshiva and prefer hanging around. You see them standing at street corners or even walking in parks watching sun - bathing girls. The Internet Cafes are packed with Haredim.
I don't understand the whole issue with "not working". There are a very few Talmidim Chachamim (wise students) and they should study but trying to force thousands of young Haredim into Yeshivot in order to keep up society demands is ridiculous.

Rabbi Hirsch had a brilliant but unique Torah (Parashat Toldot) commentary on the way Rivka (Rebekka) and Yitzchak raised their two sons Esav and Yaakov. The Rabbi commentates that if the parents had realized that Esav was not a study type at all and had, instead, provided him with a job or something physical to do, he would have not turned out that bad.
Rabbi Hirsch concludes that sometimes a parent should realize the abilities of his child and act according to that. Esav was not happy studying and thus started looking for more excitement in life. And when you look at our forefathers or even many Talmidim Chachamim in the past, most of them worked besides their studies. Even the Baal Shem Tov in his early years while he was living with his wife in the forest and growing herbs.

Or look at myself (although I am "only female):
I work and study.

It is possible combining the two although it is hard. But that's life.

"Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes" to all of you !

Haredi Bashing Again

B"H

Lately, I have been referring quite a lot to the subject of "Chozre'i be' She'elah - Frummies becoming secular" or "Leaving the Fold". Whatever expression you prefer.

Of course, I am interested in this particular topic because I am still looking (hoping to find) for answers why I didn't succeed in joining a chassidic group although I was on my way. I basically know the answer (if there is only one) but I keep on searching. Maybe someone shows up with a new idea, who knows.

Anyone is free to leave haredi society and become secular or remain "modern" observant. Even those who live in extremly closed groups. Somehow people who really want to leave, eventually find a way out. Not mentioning the private problems they are going to face with themselves.

The majority of those people leaving is simply "leaving". They leave, may ask for help and continue their lives. None of them is making his way to Hollywood in order to set up a movie about his personal sufferings in the past. Sometimes those "off - the - derech" people may be in the newspaper, but most of them keep quiet because they are busy getting adjusted to a new life. They don't make a fuss about themselves but live. Work, get an education, find a place to live, a new home, new friends, a place in society ...

And many do not hate their parents or haredi society but close the chapter in their life. What I don't understand are the few cases of haredi bashing afterwards. People leaving and then only looking back in anger. Maybe they have a reason but, at the same time, they should realize that not the entire haredi society can be blamed for their misery. There are many many positive things happening in haredi society and not everyone is a molester or an blind extremist.

In fact, I have met more nice people than the opposite. Of course, there are always black sheep in society and nothing is perfect. However, not every haredi woman is suffering and not every haredi direction is limited, extreme or evil.

I think that we should always find the balance between the negative and the positive side without getting carried away one - sided !

Buy my Publications !

B"H

I am a regular visitor of public libraries. I spend many hours in the Jewish departments, either in Jerusalem (National Jewish Library) or in Tel Aviv (Beit Ariella), in order to prepare different articles and do research. 

Most of the time, I do not refer to all the other regulars at the National Jewish Library in Jerusalem. I am very much aware that there are plenty of cliques busying themselves with networking but I am not that type; I hate creeping around others and try making a good impression in order to have a book / article published. Even more though, as many of the regulars are neither religious nor traditional. Just ordinary secular university professors or authors. Thinking of themselves as so terribly important. 

One spiritual hippie looking woman who I rather know by sight thinks of herself as very religious. Spiritual (Carlebach and Breslov mix) dressed in those white (pure) clothes and writing prayers for women. About ten days ago she came up to me and asked me to publish her new book on my blogs. Usually she hardly ever speaks to me but when she saw her networking chance, she grabbed it. No matter what ...

She has a new book out and I can buy one NOW !

I told her that I am not interested but she stuck onto me.

Her new book is our and I can have a brief look. Two or three minutes; otherwise I have to buy it but she doesn't have too many copies yet.

I was so fed up with her and told her that I don't recommed books I haven't really read. 

She was offended, took her book and has never spoken to me since.

Whether I had the book recommended or not, she would have not spoken to me anyway. It is all about networking but where is G - d in this context ? Where is Rabbi Nachman the woman had written about. All great historical rabbis seem to serve some people own ego today. 

I just find it terrible to ask for a favour in order to keep your "career" going. However, this kind of behaviour seems to be very common today.

Wanna have Fun ?

B"H

Haredim are actually human beings, believe it or not. Once I heard from Rabbi Motti Berger (Aish HaTorah) that humans were created in order to have pleasure in this world. Enjoy the world but don't forget the Mitzvot. However, G - d created this world for pleasure and we should enjoy His creation.

Enjoying life doesn't mean to dump religion and G - d !

Nevertheless, there are quite a few Haredim who dream about "normal" pleasure. Just go out, dance and without any society rules chasing after them. Just being yourself and not another brick in the haredi wall. Find out about your own personality and simply enjoy life.

However, not too many Haredim can openly do so but are forced to hide. It is not a secret that for many years, various Haredim have been going out especially on Thursday nights. Taking off the haredi dress, putting on something else and go into a bar to have fun. Okay, not always too modest but sometimes in life you feel like doing something otherwise you would go insane.

Here is one example of doing so:

HAARETZ

Haredim going out once a week in order to keep their balance on all the other days of the week.
 
Is there anything wrong being human ?