The SHEITEL in Chabad (Lubavitch)

B"H

I just found an interesting online book describing the hair covering in Chabad: "Kissui HaRosh - Properly covering the hair with a Sheitel". The book written in English can either be read online or you can download it for free !

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/15448

Further links regarding Jewish head covers and reasons for doing so:

Sheitel again 

Semachot and head covers 

The Sheitel in Chabad 

Changing Clothes and Identity

The Jewish "Taliban" Women justifying themselves

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Although the video documentation is in only in Hebrew, the message is very clear: The Jewish “Taliban” women are justifying themselves by saying that no person has the right to judge his fellow Jew by looking at the clothes. There is much more behind a person than his clothes. The “Taliban” women don’t regard themselves as “cult” but as a group of frum women following their personal strict modesty rules. They are ordinary religious women from different Jewish backgrounds and they are not up to any violent acts or behaviour. 

We all have to realize that there are differences among those women wearing shawls or “Burkas”. Not all frum women covering their heads and shoulders with a shawl regard themselves as members of the “Taliban” movement but as very modest women. And not all of them are followers of Rabbanit Ben Izri who is now the head of the “Taliban” movement. 

I actually do know some of the women appearing in the video. They are from Toldot Aharon and belong to the stricter and more conservative part of the group. The women in Toldot Aharon differ and one notices it by looking at their head covers. There are those women trying to be mre modern and those who really stick to the old Yerushalmi rules and traditions.

Haredi women and their rose shoes

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Sometimes, haredi women's clothes can be very ugly. I am not talking about Chalukim (house dresses) with all kinds of colours and stripes. No, I am talking about Schabbes clothes, for instance. Dresses with pompons and all different kinds of stripes. The same for the children. Maybe it is just not my style but it does make me wonder how some people define beauty.:-)

Once I was visiting a Tish in Jerusalem's chassidic group Kretchnif where at Toldot Aharon woman was standing next to me. She wore flat black shoes but with a huge plastic rose on top. Those shoes always follow me in my thoughts and when I passed some shoe stores in haredi Bnei Brak, the roses just came into my mind.:-)

By the way, those rose shoes were quite a fashion a while ago and I saw them at many Tishes. 

Women's shoes in Bnei Brak

Photos: Miriam Woelke

ISRAEL: The Role of the Gender Separation

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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

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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 !

"HaSodot - The Secrets"

B"H 

I found this Israeli movie by accident on Youtube but, so far, have only had the time watching three of sixteen parts. 

What is the movie about ? 

The Secrets (Ha-Sodot) (הסודוח) Avi Nesher takes us inside an all-female Orthodox Jewish seminary (midrasha) in the spiritually infused ancient town of Safed — birthplace of Kabbalah. Naomi is a passionately devoted student of the religious texts. Her mother has just died, and she postpones her marriage to a humorless Rabbinical student who responds like an automaton. She and a fellow student befriend and try to save a dying woman named Anouk (Fanny Ardant) by bringing her back to G–d before she dies. The two students begin a complex relationship, including the steamiest backrubs I've seen in a long time. The performances were spot-on emotionally, and the story does draw in even those in the audience (certainly including your reviewer). The insight into Orthodox theology, and especially its treatment of women as incapable of full religious understanding and participation, not to mention condemning lesbianism without thinking it important enough to mention even once in the Torah. I couldn't help thinking, though, that the struggle the women of the seminary undertake to pry Orthodox Judaism from its misogynist roots, is inescapably futile. The theology is so rigid and dogmatic that it seems to an outsider to be irredeemable — there is no way for Orthodox Judaism to be both Orthodox and modern, even in the very loose sense of the last millennium. It is a testament to faith that these women hold unswervingly to their own beliefs in the face of all obstacles, but certainly in this case I would say that unquestioned blind faith is not a good thing. Recommended for general audiences, highly recommended for those especially interested in the subject matter. 

See QUEERFILM 

Unfortunately, the movie has NO English subtitles and is in Hebrew only !

Not everyone is a "Taliban" Woman

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The Israeli – haredi ” Site “Kikar Shabbat” is pointing out that our secular press is jumping onto the so - called Jewish “Taliban” Women in a way that no journalist seems to care about honesty and research anymore. Every one of them is running after headlines and wants to sell his article for as much money as he can. 

Usually the secular press tells us that the "Taliban" women are stupid, totally nuts and complete weirdoes. If not insane. But be careful: Mea Shearim has plenty of women wearing a shawl or extremely modest clothes but have nothing to do with the "Taliban" movement itself. I, for example, know such women from the Toldot Aharon, the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak, the Mishkenot Ha'Roim or the original Yerushalmim.

A young women from Mea Shearim / Jerusalem who has nothing to do with the "Taliban" Movement.

The young woman on the photo looks like a friend of mine dressing the same way. The first time we met was about three years ago through friends of mine in Mea Shearim. It turned out that A. (as I am calling her here) comes from South America, converted to Judaism and now lives with her husband and son in Mea Shearim. The couple joined one of the old Yerushalmi groups. Not an extreme group but a moderate split - off.  With friends and A., I went to the house of the Toldot Aharon Rebbitzen and, from time to time, we meet A. when she is returning to her home from the Synagogue on Shabbat.

For a long time, I have been planning an interview with A. because I am curious how a young woman from the outside is able to undergo such a change. Not a conversion but joining such a chassidic group and especially dressing in such a modest way. I need to add that A.'s group doesn't demand that kind of dress at all but A. does it because she wants to dress this way.  However, A. has left a great impression on us. She seems to be so happy with her life and lifestyle. It amazes us and because we can hardly believe it, we are curious how she is able to do manage all that.

So far, I haven't had the guts asking A. for an interview. Once I phoned her and asked her another question and the answer included the sentence that she has to ask her husband first. This was it: Ask her husband first. What if she, again, has to ask her husband first ? I guess I know his answer, as I spoke to him on the phone once where he left an extremely religious impression on me. Nevertheless, I will find an opportunity asking A. and hope she agrees. I would never mention her real name nor the chassidic group the small family joined but just ask how she deals with the daily Mea Shearim life.

TV Documentary on Jewish "Taliban" Women

B"H 

An Israeli TV documentary on the Jewish "Taliban" women. Unfortunately, the documentary is only in Hebrew !!!

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 ?

Mea Shearim: Demonstrations against "Taliban" Women

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After Shabbat was over, once again, garbage cans started burning in Mea Shearim. The inhabitants are fed up with the Jewish "Taliban" women and all those Rabbis supporting them. Demonstrations are taking place in front of the Beit Midrash of Rabbi Rumpler as well as in front of the house of Yoelish Kroisz from the local Neturei Karta.

The EDAH HA'CHAREDIT versus "Taliban" Women Cult

The Edah HaCharedit warning against getting involved with the so - called Jewish "Taliban" women.


 Source: LaDa'at

B"H 

Sometimes I wish I had studied psychology instead of business administration, as then I would definitely have an explanation why certain women tend to join cults (Hebrew: כתות - Katot). How can it be that a woman is ready to give up her own freedom in order to follow a cult leader or ideology ? 

This is just unbelievable and I don't succeed in understanding those women. Maybe because I love to be independent and follow my own decisions in life.

Please note that I am not talking about religion and Torah but simply about the freedom of a human being. 

How can a woman be that stupid and follow a guy like Daniel Ambash if not due to dire straits ? And how can a woman follow the crazy  made - up idea of dressing like our foremothers Sarah, Rivka, Lea and Rachel ? Besides, I don't believe that the foremothers ever dressed like the so - called Jewish "Taliban" women today. Moreover, I do not see the foremothers go nuts about every presence of a male. 

King David would have such a great laugh about the "Taliban" women and no one from the First or Second Temple period in Jerusalem would understand the women who totally cover themselves and live in their own world. Look at Bruriah, the wife of the talmudic Rabbi Me'ir. Bruriah was a learned woman who was counceling and giving advice to her environment. Event to her husband, as Talmud Berachot teaches us.

Look at Rashi's daughters or a women like Dona Gracia. An emancipated independent woman doesn't automatically mean that she is totally secular and immodest. I know many haredi business woman and female lawyers. I stick to my opinion: When G - d provided a human being with a special gift (singing, writing, drawing, dealing in business, law, science, etc.) he should definitely make use of it. Become a doctor when you love medical science. Become a photographer when you are into photos and cameras. Just use your abilities in positive ways. 

G - d didn't create women in order to stay at home, roll themselves into "Taliban" dresses and keep out of a shop as long as a male customer is inside. G - d wants us to have a life !

I do understand that there are weak women in this world. Women who haven't learnt using their abilities or a profession and to speak up. There are women as well as men who always need a strong person telling them what to do and how. However, when you belong to this particular category, you should look for a person inspiring you in a positive way and not in order to rule your life. And this is what the Jewish "Taliban" women leader do. They draw their own bit of self - esteem out of others and even put their followers down. The followers may escape one day but the person with a true mental problem is the cult leader him - or herself. 

And what do those women in question say ? What about their opinion ? Has anyone ever asked them ? 

I found a blog answering some of the questions. Apparently there are different groups within the "Taliban" women. Some keep it very strict up to the extreme and others only wear a shawl. The Breslover Ba'al Teshuva Rabbis Berland and Arush gave their okay as well as Rabbi Rumpler from Ge'ulah / Jerusalem. On the other hand, last night, Rabbi Rumpler was facing a demonstration of 200 Haredim in front of his Beit Midrash. 

I am not surprised that Rabbi Berland as well as Arush support the Ba'alat Teshuva covering themselves thinking that modesty "Zniut" is THE most important Mitzvah for a woman. Those of you following this blog on a regular basis know that I neither trust in what Berland has to say nor in the cashcow Arush. 

However, I learned that not every Jewish "Taliban" woman is a "Taliban" woman but there are differences. What I still don't understand is why those women don't develope their own personality instead of running after extreme ideas not even our foremothers or Zipporah kept.

Who are the Jewish Taliban Women ?

B"H

An Israeli TV report about the Taliban women in Ge'ulah and Mea Shearim / Jerusalem. 

http://www.kikarhashabat.co.il/%D7%98%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%91%D7%9F.html

Another cult and cults seem to attract people's curiosity. However what I saw in the report is not only the regular Breslov Taliban women but also women from Chassidut Toldot Aharon. 

Bnei Brak and its modesty Madness

To all shops selling clothes: Selling immodest clothing is like selling unkosher meat !

Enough with the haredi immodesty. Meaning, immodest haredi clothing such as shorter skirts, too much make - up or women's clothing in shiny colours causing too much male attention. The graffiti has been in Rashi Street for quite a few years now.

Even if a woman just walks a few meters to the grocery, she should be dressed as modest as our foremother Rachel and not sloppy or causing negative attention.

The Edah HaCharedit and the Satmarer Rebbe (Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum, I suppose, as Bnei Brak is full of his followers): Selling immodest clothes is like selling unkosher meat !

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Women and the Shofar

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According to the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), women are allowed to blow the Shofar.

Modesty: An Adornment for Life

Photo: Feldheim

B"H

One of the blog readers mentioned the book "Modesty: An Adornment for Life" written by Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk. The book deals with the modesty of women such as dressing code and morality. Fortunately, I found it available to read on Google Books; although not all pages. 

I have to make a confession: I have always felt uncomfortable among these really frum dressed women and girls. First of all, I am not like them even if I dressed like them. My upbringing was different and thus is my behaviour. Somehow I identify the frum dress with kitchen, not too much education, many children and a lack of freedom. Of course this is a stereotype point of view but it automatically comes into my mind when I see such girls. Especially young women who are newly married.

When I was in the haredi neighbourhood of Ge'ulah (next to Mea Shearim in Jerusalem) yesterday, I entered my favourite cold drink store. Slush in many varieties and you even have the choice between Parve and Chalavi (Milchig). 

The store is small, run by English speaking modern Haredim and located in Malchei Israel Street. Why I like going there ? Because the slush is tasty and not too expensive. A big cup costs 13 Shekels (approx. 4 Dollar). 

Yesterday I ordered the slush and placed myself into a corner next to the door. In fact, there is not much room to stand anyway. 

A few minutes later, an ambulance team from the Israeli "Magen David Adom" entered the store and also ordered slush. Three guys and one younger woman wearing their white ambulance shirts. The woman and me were the only females in the store wearing pants. No one was bothered by that but then a young chassidic couple walked in and even before they ordered their drink, the young woman looked at us like ... well, she may have thought that she is on a higher level. Regarding modesty or religiously. In fact, she looked at me and the Magen David Adom woman and started whispering to her husband. He, by the way, wasn't interested at all. 

I am used to that kind of behaviour by many haredi women but the ambulance woman didn't feel very comfortable. Why would this young haredi woman (I couldn't identify her group but it could have been Chernobyl) judge us according to our clothes ? Malchei Israel Street is not such a closed neighbourhood and plenty of secular and traditional Jews walk around during the day. 

The young chassidic woman has her task in this world and so do we. She neither knows me nor the ambulance woman and in case she needs an ambulance, she will be glad seeing that particular woman in her pants helping her. 

I had to mention this particular situation here because I felt sorry for the young ambulance woman being stared at. Not only being stared but the haredi woman had to whisper to her husband. The couple left after a short while and I don't even know whether they bought something or decided not to.

Chassidic Women and the Stocking Feeling

Toldot Aharon women and their stockings

Photo: Maariv

B"H

It all depends on the upbringing and one's own discipline. I don't have the upbringing and I do have a lack of discipline. At least in some ways of my life.

The summer season in Israel is extremely hot. Netanya,Haifa, Ashdod, Tel Aviv or Bnei Brak additionally suffer from a high percentage of humidity coming from the sea. The result is that, even without moving too much, we are dripping. Sweat is running down you face and even your arms. And then we see women wearing stockings. It doesn't matter what colour the stockings have. Plain black or simply regular stockings for the chassidic woman.

We look at those women and feel sorry for them. Their society is determining the rules and this includes the stockings as well. On the other hand, I see many of those chassidic woman walking with a certain kind of pride. They stare at other women not being that modest and the others stare because there is a woman walking around in stockings.

Seculars may think that those stocking women are nuts or being told by their husbands what to wear. Many chassidic women, however, wouldn't even get the idea of not wearing those stockings. The stockings make them accepted in their society. Showing that they identify with the group. For those women there is no alternative and they don't even look for one. If you want a good Shidduch, be proud of yourself, have a life, then you wear the stockings. You do what society expects you to do and don't even think about it. I have met many of such women but when you do start some controversial topics, they become curious and start discussing among each other.

Chassidic Ba'alei Teshuva women just jump into those stockings, as this may give them the feeling that they are part of the group. An inner satisfaction to show one's discipline and desire to do everything right.

I admire both groups but would love to know how those Ba'alei Teshuva women feel in their new lives ? Is it really that easy to throw away your sandals or sneakers and jump into stockings and shoes ?

Women ! Dress modestly !

The EDAH HACHAREDIT telling women to dress modestly and not to show any flesh.

Source: Ladaat

Kiryat Sefer: Woman found her clothes burnt

B"H

A haredi woman living in the haredi town of Kiryat Sefer (near Modi'in) found her own laundry burnt. What she had done was hanging her underwear out to dry and some neighbours or people passing by regarded the "public" female underwear as immodest "Lo Zanu'a". It says that last week, the woman received a warning from her neighbours not to hang out her washed underwear in order to dry.

The comments of the forum post are quite interesting. Some Haredim refer to the Halacha that female underwear may cause a man immodest "dirty" thoughts. Others simply call the person burning the underwear a PERVERT.

In case you are planning to do some laundry, think twice were to dry your underwear !!!

Source: Be'Chadrei HaCharedim

Women wearing Re'ulot

B"H

I found an interesting teaching in the Talmud Tractate Shabbat 65a which immediately reminded me of the "Taliban Mother".

The Mishna says that Jewish women may go out on Shabbat wearing "Re'ulot". 

What does this mean ?

Rashi explains that it refers to women whose entire head is totally covered except for one eye. However, this way of dressing is considered provocative, as it entices men wanting to see more of the face. 

Honestly, I have never thought about that !:-)

This is why it is called "Re'ulot - Poisons". Further, Rashi says that "Re'ulot" are thick coats a woman wraps around herself. On the other hand, the Rambam considered "Re'ulot" to be bells hanging from the woman's clothes. 

The thought that men who see a today's Jewish Burka woman may feel the desire to see more ... Maybe this was true in ancient times but not today. The Breslover Burka women running around in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem or elsewhere probably cause the opposite, as there is nothing female around them. Not even anything human but just a walking Schmattes. 

Photo: Chadrei HaCharedim

Graffiti in Bnei Brak

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

I saw that graffiti in Rabbi Akivah Street in Bnei Brak the other day. In Hebrew it says "Zniut LeTovatech" and, as we see from the ending of the last word, it refers to women. However, some people may also read it "Zniut Le'Tovatcha" and thus applying it to men as well.

My thought is that it refers only to females and "Zniut Le'Tovatech" means in English "Modesty for your own Benefit". 

I wasn't modest enough when I passed Rabbi Akivah Street because I wore jeans but seeing this kind of graffiti almost blew my mind. It must have been written by a man who has certain dirty thoughts in his mind.