when you think france banned the veil, you hardly can believe the leading democracy of the middle east allows such provocative gestures of mentally retardation.

following? Does anybody else feel like these beings in black are an affront to us civilised people?

What's the difference 'tween Taliban and Khareidi, Tweedledum and tweedledee, Superficial, oh so frum, Tweedledee and tweedledum. The interesting question is: how did Israelites at Har Sinai figure out how Europe would dress 3 millennia later so that they could ASSIMILATE to 18th century European GOYIM dress? (For Israeli dress, beards, hairstyle, etc. check the archeological depictions. A khareidi would stick out like a streaker in Mea Shearim.) Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer & Orthodox Jew: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming all who choose to keep Torah (When questions to me go unanswered, they have refused to post it. Find our reply in our Web Café at www.netzarim.co.il)

Thse so-called "Taliban women" are making up their own laws and way of life as a way of flouting rabbinic authority. They want to set themselves up as the religious authorities in their homes and communities. It is a bizarro, sick and destructive form of feminism.

Yes, they outmuslim the Muslims,you got stiff competition.

Aidel a chabadian from Australia. While she is right there, a pity nobody taught her that minus is worse. What a shame!

or "returning to faith ? well as we see it here , those kind of "people" are the most virulent hatefull possible . Not to talk about the FAKE or self proclaimed converts who are only missionaries of their christian "faith" .

haredism is NOT Judaism, but an idolotrous cult surrounding rabbis. it should be dismantled in Israel. They are no longer practicing Judaism, neither the "taliban" jews nor the chabadniks or satmars, shasniks, etc.. they are all backward, superstitious fools who are abusing their children by not allowing them to learn science, maths, biology, and philosophy! their schools should be shut and their children should learn NORMAL subjects in in NORMAL schools!

where did we go wrong?

they are descendants of hundreds of years of perversity and scum - and - suddenly they are better than everyone else.

Did you not even read the article? The Haredi rabbis have unanimously CONDEMNED this trend, calling it anti-Jewish and anti-halacha.

Don't blame Kool Aid. But, yes it is a good idea.

I am spending plenty of time among Haredim and I have never noticed a growing trend of these Burka Baalet Teshuva. There are very few and the trend it not growing at all. The Burka women basically consist of some Sephardi Breslover Baalot Teshuav and nothing else. I don't know where they belong to, as I don't see such a trend neither at Rabbi Berland's branch nor at Rabbi Shalom Arush's movement.

stop them now!!!!

I read the article, and it is good that the Medinat wants to have a further look into this. Most importantly, it is important for these kids to get a proper education. Since these schools are not supervised by Education Ministry, that needs to be looked into NOW. Secondly, I have seen this phenomenon growing over the years. In some public events, I have seen these women who could easily be mistaken for Arabs because of the head covering. They need to be reminded that they are Jews. Jews do not dress like Taliban. Again, the issue with security is a valid one. We don't want a situation where they are mistook for being on the other side, when in fact they are Jews. I think it says a lot when even the Orthodox schools in the country won't take them.

That is heavy. Well, it is the ME, I suppose.

These women are not forced to do it. Why is it worse that coloring one's hair green or wearing one earring?

I don't think that our founding mothers Sara, Rivka, Rachel and Leah dressed this way. And our forefathers certainly didn't wear black suits, knickers, streimels, etc.

I would have expected more from you than that comment, although it is partially correct. The vast majority of these women are newly religious, as the article points out. Yes, they are bringing with them feminist garbage that mutates into this sort of extremism, but they have no idea what rabbinical authority is to flout it. They are simply over-reacting to a sordid past, and apparently have no one to direct their well-meaning enthusiasm. On the contrary, people appear to be manipulating them. One can only hope that they mature, realise their their mistake and bow out gracefully.

Society accepts people dying their kid's hair green, or permitting body piercing on children, not to mention same-sex couple bringing up adopted children, so why the rabid condemnation of these? I don't agree in the slightest with what they are doing, but provided they do not abuse the kids in ways presently accepted as abuse, leave them be and the kids will later chose for themselves. One of the arguments of the secular camp is expose children to a secular lifestyle and allow them to chose when they're older. That same argument is valid in reverse as well.

The Chareidim, including Chabad, add new chumrot on a daily basis. The only reason this one bothers the Haredim (including Chabad) is because it didn't come from that rabbanim. Incidentally, the Rebbe as Moshiach and praying to him as Christians do to Jesus...not so Jewish.

the religious camp has gone for the Humra of the week thing for years and years these newly religious are just taking it to the next level! Teaching the old time religious what real stringent (Humra) behavior is all about. Good for them and good for the mega religious...let all of them cover up more!

It's crazy I tell you, Two exptremes. Mideast they cover from head to toe and here in LA they wear tongs and barely cover their breast and run around in public like that. Men are more modest, I wouldn't ever go outside in my underware.

Whether veils were to be worn by the single, the married, or the woman-for-hire changed with culture. God has not spoken on the subject.