Uri - You are a sham! I work in Jerusalem - 1. there is every hechsher (and non-kosher) chocolate bar you could wish for. 2. There is a million places to go to if you want to see/hear women sing. 3. 98% of bus routes are not mehadrin. 4. Not only can you get the Yediot Acharonot, unfortunately you can also buy the PlayBoy - oh sorry, perhaps you were living in Meah Shearim, in which case it's good you moved.

What a completely pointless and poorly written article. The mind boggles.....

I would prefer the ultra orthodox takeover over the secularist who are making of Jerusalem a gay parade arena. I see the Haredim as an example of piety and religious observance, and frankly God bless them for their sincere work. I think the Haredim are closer to the original teachings of the first prophets of God and hence closer to Islamic teachings too.

Aren't you being a little selfish? Isn't Jerusalem the capital of Israel? Why can't the secular Jews also enjoy living there?

If the author doesn't appreciate that Jerusalem is a unique city, one of a kind in the entire world - the Capital of Jewish People - then it's better for the author to live in *any other place in the whole world*, where he won't suffer from a shortage of his preferred pleasures. This is the same kind of mentality as if a person moved to Mecca - the Capital of Islam - and complained about a lack of bikinis and bars.

well wake up, the zionist fantasy is dead, the only ones frowing and building in eretz yisroel are the charedim. maybe you would rather see brothels and night clubs all over yerusholayim, rather than yeshivos and chaodrim?

We should cede Jerusalem to the Haredim...Jerusalem should then secede from the State of Israel. The problem will then be between the Haredim and the Palestinians and I am sure that through the good mediation services of the Neturei Karta, everybody will live happily ever after.

Do not be fooled by his kippah. Too bad all those lessons about Ahavas Yisroel he was taught made no impression upon him.

I hope that all of you leftist /anti-religious Jews understand what he said is the path to peace in the middle east. Why would GOD give the holy land peacefully to people that don't keep their side of the contract (a.k.a the Torah)?

half of your sacred city to the Arabs and here you're grumbling about the presence and cultural dominance of the Orthodox. By the way, I'm not observant. Don't go to synagogue. But it bugs me the way you Israelis seem to find it easier to vent your frustrations on the Haredi and the settlers, but Oh so careful not to offend the sensitivities of the Arabs. It makes me sick. Wake up, Uri.

He's anti taliban....which is where we are headed in Jerusalem unless others stand up to be counted. You and No. 4 the so called "Palestinian" are on the same fundamentalist page.

since you are in Israel you may as well drop the pretentious accent.

or was this article really stupid? Kinda like a 3rd grade forced essay. I can't believe I actually agree with the Pal though - good to have one city on track with Jewish values. Uri, buy a tape deck, and then go back and read the explanations on why guys can't hear women sing. What an idiot!

Dear Uri, I understand where you are coming from. Living a Heredi livestyle is one thing, Having a Heredi Mayor is a matter of different topic. The fact that women sit in the back of the bus 2, and there are non kosher chocolates with no Hekshure in the supermarkets in Heredi neighbourhoods, is a business related matter. Rightfully so if you are the only customer with kippa sruga not caring about kosher, buying from a store in a Heredi place, you wont find what you are looking for. The reverse works well too. A Frum man looking for a Bedatz chocolate in Tel Aviv store. Simple answer there isn't a market for Bedatz products in Tel Aviv. Have you heard of market/demographics. It has nothing to do with Heredim taking over Yerushalaim. or a Frum incoming Mayor. Yerushalaim is to all Jews. Religious or not... you are invited to move back too. but first eat some bedatz chocolate it will put you in a better mood.

I remember as a child coming to Jerusalem and thinking wow I could love living here. Everyone seemed to get along. One could worship as one wished, or be secular and there was no shame in any of it. One just had to avoid Meah Shearim where the fanatics lived. Now the fanatics have indeed taken over the city. Not just Jewish ones either. But the Charedim are the worst of the lot. They try to force the rest of the world to follow their rules.In a secular society of which ALL of Israel is a part this is just wrong. Side note: Why do the Charedim insist on continuing to wear what was fashionable in the 1700's? There is zero religious connexion to their form of dress. If they'd like to be "religious" they should wear things like Kaftans which are more in line with what was probably worn in biblical times

not goodbey Jerusalem. As one can see it is all about him and his ego in Mr Orbach's article, that is the way he has been manipulated to think and believe in todays cultural flavor of the day. And Mr Orbach you will disappear in the shadows off time like all of us, but Jerusalem is eternal to the Jewish people. The secular state of Israel (not its people) and what it represents will be just an moment of time in our total history. There have been many Hellenists in many periods who tried to rule and surpress the intended purpose of our holy Jerusalem and they have all failed. Only by drawing closel to Torah will people be able to stay here, it is like living in the palace of the king, one can not make up one's own rules. As a people we keep on repeating the same old song and dance of resistance to our destiny, untill we understand and do what is expected from us as a nation.

You are a sham. read #1 also, you should get used to the fact that Yerushalayim is meant to be a special city. And, stop writing your dribble just because you can't think of anything else to write in order to get your pay. I understand if you do this occasionaly, when you really can't think of other stuff to write. Look, why don't you do something interesting. Like, dress up as a Charedi person, go to Meah Shearim for Shabbat, and then write about the experience. Anti-religious or not, that would be a good piece of journalism. Or how about visiting Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva for Shabbat, and writing about HaRav Yuval Cherlow, whose articles sometimes appear here.

So it is better that you stay in TA and bit venture into Jerusalem as you might find it very uncomfortable if you know what I mean. Jerusalem is for real Jews of religion and not for seculars who call themselves Jews but do not follow the faith or abide by Jewish law.

This does not make me Anti-Reuvens, Anti-Men nor Anti-men from Ra'anana. The author isn't bashing the orthodox. He is criticizing the haredi for forcing their world view on others. And I agree with him!

Congratulations Mr. Orbach! I thought that I was the only one - and I do still live in Jerusalem - for now at least...

So, Jerusalem is slowly becoming a Holy City--That's good, not bad! Uri, if you're looking for fun, look no further that Tel-Aviv. You can visit Jerusalem for the annual Gay parade!

Glad to hear that you don't care anymore and you moved a year ago. The seculars have strongholds in most of Israel, why shouldn't the holiest of sights for the Jewish religion not be able to keep Jerusalem Religious? If it is just a point your trying to make just leave it at that, there are more important issues to worry about and you can get your Ham and Eggs and strippers in TelAviv till the cows come wandering home. Having Jerusalem be a little to "Religious" for you is to me not an issue, and I am not religious but I do not claim to be "Secular" as that is its own religion to some if not many Israeli's.

Under mayor Uri Lupolianski Jerusalem has alienated its self from main stream Israel and become an ultra orthodox enclave. Jerusalem can no longer claim to be the democratic capital of Israel, thus enforcing Palestinian claims on East Jerusalem. Mayor Uri Lupolianski dosent know the meaning of the word democracy and gives in to every extremist request from the ultra orthodox and totally ignoring the secular population, the same academic people who unlike the ultra orthodox , work , pay taxes and serve in the army. The figures of people leaving Jerusalem for these reasons is a national disaster. Let alone his policy of ethnic cleansing of the Arab population of East Jerusalem.

I think this article is appropriate for showing off writing skills and sarcasm but it lacks any concrete substance. This article only wants to portray the orthodox as a bunch of narrow people. In reality the orthodox are proud of their culture and do not want cultural imperialism to engulf them the way it has engulfed Uri Orbach.

We moved out three years ago. Couldn't handle the religious coercion from people believing they own the truth. So when all the businesses close because Jerusalem has become a welfare city, and no one will even want to visit, they may wake up.

forget that 95% of what he says is rubbish, the article is horribly written. this guy should NOT be allowed to wirte for YNET...he brings down the intelectual level of the publication.

I'm coming to MY Capital , liberated by mostly seculars in 67 , and certainly 100 % secularsin 48 when the Palmach brought relief to the city . Regarding Uri Orbach's article , i don't feel such a coercision there . Ma Yafot benot Yeroushalaim , in their mini mini shorts , walking around in downtown Jerusalem .

Iam not Chareidi.But your article is what is minor.Especially during this week you emphasize 'the sinat chinam' that brought our destruction. I THOUGHT YOU WERE ABOVE THIS.