I am sure that for some Orthodox the boycott of the reform wedding is driven by a fear of what is different but for the majority of Orthodox Jews it is done for a valid Jewish law reason. Under Jewish law, a wedding is valid if there are two Orthodox witnesses. Orthodox Jews fear that their presence at the wedding would make the marriage legal under Jewish law. Then if the couple divorces but fails to get a Jewish "get" or divorce the couple's subsequent remarriage would be polygomous under Jewish law. many reform jews do not bother to receive a proper jewish "get." By "boycotting" the wedding they are ensuring that the couple does not face the problem of "mamzerim." While seculars do not believe in Jewish law in the same way that the Orthodox do (and I expect TBers to remind me how "silly" and "stupid" those laws are), you must understand that the boycott is not done for a malicious reason or driven by social divide but rather as part of the belief system to which the Orthodox subscribe.

We have a Stibelach and various other ultra-orthodox institutions and we have secular institutions. We all get along just fine. None of our streets are ever closed but everyone who drives knows that it is 'rude' to drive past the Stibelach on Shabbat morning so we don't do it out of courtesy for our neighbors. The Stibelach folks for their part know that if a car passes by on Shabbat morning it is because they are probably headed to Misgav Ladach Hospital just down the street and around the corner from them. In other words we have a workable co-existence on Shabbat and a workable co-existence during the rest of the week! So truly I don't understand the fear mongering which seems to be this article's principle message!

If anyone would say that about a negro neighbour, he would be branded a racist. But the negative seculars are right. The state was founded for them and not for the religious. The religious have no place there.

51% of seculars don't want religious neighbor. There is nothing to see with race.

Good information. Thanks for taking the time to tell us.

The other reason is that it is forbidden to take part in any apikorses event. Also after two centuries of assimlation, especially the last half of this century most of the reform "jews" are halachicly goyim...

I know as I live in the same neighborhood & my shul is next door to Misgav Ladach Hospital. We all get along just fine. Our attitude is you do your thing I'll do mine. Also there are many chareidim here with secular friends & visa versa. If all Israel could be like our neighborhood Moshiach would come!!!!

part - historically, an important one, but a part nevertheless - and we must foster this understanding. But we must also work actively to ensure that this civilization lasts. That implies first and foremost the study, use and preservation of our people's language, Hebrew. We must continuously study our people's texts which are the foundation of our people as a people, the Hebrew Bible (TaNaKH), Mishnah and at least Agadah. We must learn and understand our people's history, all of it and not only selected parts. And we certainly must learn to appreciate through learning and practice our religion, be it in a stricter or more liberal way. Unless we take an active part in preserving our civilization, it too will go into the waste basket of history in the way so many other civilizations have gone.

go to the army and theirs' do not.You go to work and pay taxes for their anti Zionist institutions.Some even try to tell you they have a messiah all their own.

I certainly dont want them anywhere near my neighborhood, just like in Ramat Aviv they come in take over start brainwashing our children then start causing trouble. Keep them well clear of our children please, with morals like that we need them kept well away .

is what you are saying? Almost half the nation!

Polling has its weaknesses as it lumps people together, such as in this article regarding the "Haredim", whose ways are, in fact, very different. Lubavitchers reach out in a non-judgemental way to the secular; Breslovers sing and dance on the "pagan" streets and appear to be especially attractive to drug users and other "lost" souls. On the other hand, the Belz stay amongst themselves wearing their curious nineteenth century fur hats. They own the diamond trade and refuse to share it with outsiders. The Edah Haredit, a cover name for several Chassidic sects and fractionalized sects, do not acknowledge the legitemacy of the state of Israel and tend to isolate themselves amongst their own kind. So I think I'd like to know which particular Charedim were polled. Also, the secular tend to group the Charedim together as one out of ignorance because either they've ignored the opportunity or were never offered the opportunity to have any meaningful communication with a Haredi Jew. The worlds, even in Israel, often seem continents apart. Just go to the inner harbour of Tel Aviv on Shabbat and compare how the people look and what they do with Shabbit in Jerusalem. Hint: In Tel Aviv not a Kippah to be seen.

your car they wont hurel at you rockes? or won't try to convience you to joined the for a prayer. get real they have no respect to other people life style but their own.

Kudos to whoever named this article! You have done your part, by striking another blow of the mallet on the wedge that drives us apart. So what if 73% of haredim also don't want secular neighbors but49% of seculars wouldn't mind haredim neighbors. Substance be damned! As long as you gave an inflaming name to the article and dragged us in, hoping we'd click on your little ads and drop another coin in your fountain.

seculars, by definition don't believe in G.d ans His Torah. Haredim yes. But the main point is that people with streimels or with black/white clothes are NOT exclusively haredim, they are also a lot that doens't know what fear of G.d is... So, pls, dear (so called seculars)brothers, stop making of black/white clothes a specific category of people. (maybe they think that red is too flashy or bikini is not suitable for G.d's daughters ?) Don't use the term Haredi to point a so-clothed person. Thats the believing guy that talks to you. You can wear jeans and red t shirt and have more fear of G.d than streimels owners. .... Regarding the last Jerusalem events... again.... wait for the conclusion... should the woman be jailed.... please.... should receive mental care... please.... should Hadassa hospital be juged .... please .... wait for the conclusion... there are not only closed persons in the "Haredim".

Categorizing all "religious" (dati) as Ultra-Orthodox is smearing many (not Ultra-) Orthodox, which makes you part of the "secular-religious" problem rather than part of the solution.

The heading : 51 % of seculars don't want a charidi neighboor . In the article 36 % ?????

Not being against does NOT mean in favor .

For me witnesses are those who sign the Ketubah , not those who attend .

its just live and let live here in our little corner of Jersualem. so may-be you should get real and realize that you are just afraid! I live in a building which is 3/4 religious and 1/4 secular we get along just fine because we have mutual respect for one another. (by the way I am part of the secular 1/4 of the building! May I suggest you consider freeing yourself from your fear!)

What two Orthodox witnesses? Two JEWISH men. Stop claiming Judaism only for the Orthodox, it makes Jews leave our religion. You think halakha is reserved for one group within one stream of all Jews in the world? This is what G-d wanted? Include all Jews incl. women and try again.

There's a glatt restaurant very very close to the port area TA, (not the bet cafeon on the pier), that has hotel accomodation that is full of religious families mostly black kippot. They stroll along the pier and port area. We do too, my husband wearing his kippa sruga and we love it. We stay at a different small non glatt hotel. All kids did the army and do miluim but I sincerely hope that we don't have to bump into that awful #10. We'd rather bump into the glatt crowd any day of the week. BTW the glatt place provides it's guests with breakfast on Shabbat. Yes, a typical jewish shabbat breakfast, i.e.no cooked hot ham thankfully. The ham crowd have so many choices in that area, so neither they,nor we, are too unhappy. Just keep #10 away from us (all) please.

Whether you believe that any two Jews work as witnesses or whether you believe that the Torah really believes that any two Jews are valid witnesses is not relevant to what I am explaining to you. The ORTHODOX believe that only ORTHODOX witnesses count. That is why they do not come. It is based on THIER belief system.

Nice sentiments, if not a little delusional. Haredim cannot do their thing and seculars do their thing if they live in the same neighbourhood. Seculars drive on Saturdays, Haredim do not. If you live in a Haredi neighbourhood you cannot drive on Saturday – that results in restriction of a person’s freedom of movement - so don't paint the we can all live together picture - we can't!!!! Haredi in their neighbourhoods – Seculars in theirs and never the twain shall meet.

are mostly traditional,so naturally and automatically more respectful. We moved from a secular, predominantly ashkenazi neighbourhhood, to where we are now, predominantly sephardi, traditional, but not religious as such. The difference on Shabbat is amazing. We are ashkenazi, and observant, and enjoy the difference, the lovely quiet atmosphere. There is a public pool in the area, enjoyed by all, when they choose. It's open on Shabbat , and it offends no one. Many have a lot to learn.

Jewish law depends quite frankly on whom one speaks to. When my wife and I married over 54 years ago, we had two witnesses, both JEWS, neither orthodox. Orthodoxy may well consider our marraige performed under a chuppah by an ordained rabbi as invalid. They can believe what they want; it changes nothing in our lives. We are JEWS and the wedding was a JEWISH wedding. As a matter of fact, when our daughter married in Israel we supplied the necessary proof that she is a JEW, her mother is a JEW and her grandmothers were JEWS. Even the Israeli orthodox accepted that she is a JEW and her children are all ISRAELI JEWS. BTW, the same rabbi who officiated at our wedding, officiated at my Bar Mitzvah. BTW, many orthodox JEWS have all types of mischigas trying to get any kind of "GET" from their spouse as is well known. The orthodox have a perfect right to live under whatever religious rules they see fit. They should however not try to impose those rules upon other JEWS who do not accept their for form of religiousity.