Jewish Scene
Female shoppers asked to 'dress modestly' at Netanya supermarket
Shiri Hadar
Published: 13.06.12, 13:47
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1. Soon in a supermarket near you..
Arielush ,   Ramat Ha Golan   (06.13.12)
A year ago it was Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem etc. Who knows were it will happen next. It's easy to turn a blind eye and shop elsewhere but doing so would be ignoring the main point. This is a war. They are taking over this country fighting supermarket by supermarket, school by school, ceremony by ceremony. This is a war againts freedom and the rights of women. We must alll be vigilant, today it is your supermarket, tomorrow it might be your pool or cinema.
2. Discusting ! Netanya is not Tehran
Haim ,   TA   (06.13.12)
Boycott these supermarkets !
3. What if the opposite happened?
R ,   Israel   (06.13.12)
What if it were the opposite? What if a secular store asked its customers to dress lightly in order not to offend the non-haredi, and offered to help the overly dressed clientelle remove a few layers? I'm guessing there would be boycotts, a media uproar, perhaps damage to the store. Just saying...
4. #1
Loyal Jew ,   Israel   (06.13.12)
Here's hoping. It may be our only chance.
5. So what?
Ahuva ,   Ramat Gan, Israel   (06.13.12)
What's the big deal? Stores all over North America post signs to the effect of "no shirt, no shoes no service" and nobody finds that offensive. They're not beating up customers, merely asking them to respect the comfort zone of their MAJORITY clientele and dress accordingly. And as was stated in the article, everyone should have a choice -- those who don't like it can shop elsewhere. Let this community have a store where they feel comfortable shopping, too.
6. 1 Arielush,please be vigilant...
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (06.13.12)
not to provoke a civil war with your statements. The owner of the supermarket is looking for the wellbeing of the majority of his clients,which are Orthodox Jews,and he should be free to do so.
7. the store owner is always right
zionist forever   (06.13.12)
If we had been talking about the local Supersol that would be one thing but this store is SUPPOSED to be religious ( the OWNER intended it to be that way ). If a store wants to cater to the religious and they decide that the dress code must be moderate and was not coerced into this policy then that is their right. If somebody non religious wants to shop there then they are welcome to but they must adhere to the rules the shop owners have set. The owner doesn't have to justify the dress code policy to secular shopers or anybody else. The shoppers know the rules and so they then either go shop there or they don't but there is no crime in this policy
8. Go to Tiv Taam instead
Mike Carmel ,   Rishon le Zion   (06.13.12)
9. after working in LA and Israel for 50 years
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (06.13.12)
Why can't we have a dress code that does not offend peoples eyes. In LA, the garbage that passed itself off as dress was shocking and I left. I worked another 30 years in Israel where people slowly began to ape the American culture. I remember when women dressed with dignity here in Israel and not with boobs hanging out. But now I see that the low self esteem of the USA has caught on here and women dress in very revealing manners. It is a very sad commentary on what has happened. Ben Gurion was against the television, he thought it would ruin the Zionist ideals; he did not realize that it was even worse, it brought on hedonist ideals in its place.
10. What is considered immodest?
Chaya ,   Bat Yam   (06.13.12)
Are shorts with a top that has short sleeves immodest? What about pants on a woman? Is that immodest? I, personally, don't like to see girls and women walking around with their 'all' hanging out.....just want to know what the 'bottom line' is.
11. #3 too late
2Mad ,   ירושלים, ארץ ישראל   (06.13.12)
Had never seen a night club ? Even on TV ?
12. 3 R.Israel There would be nothing ...
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (06.13.12)
of the kind.The Haredi clientele would simply not come.
13. 1
zionist forever   (06.13.12)
If this was not about modesty to avoid offending his orthodox shoppers ( he majority of his customers ) but instead he banned people wearing blue would all these objectors still be up in arms or would they say I think its stupid but I will just not wear blue when I shop there? There are plenty of stores that have dress codes and it has nothing to do with religious customers and whilst people might not like the rules they accept them. The only reason anybody is making a fuss over this is because its because it involves trying to please the religious shoppers. What if you opened a store banning people wearing kippot would religious Jews be justified in condemning you for it or would you say you don't like my rules then don't shop in my store? I have a relative in the UK who is a rabbi and one day he and his kids went to visit a royal residence of some kind and part of the trip was to the Queens chapel and the rule was when your not allowed to wear hats in there. Whilst he was wearing a kipa his sons were wearing baseball hats and he tried to explain they were Jewish so they must keep their head covered but guide said no hats under any circumstances so rather than than making a fuss they left the chapel to catch up with the tour later. He understood there were rules and he was the visitor so he had to abide by their rules not moan about not liking them so he chose to miss that part of the tour. In a supermarket the customers are visitors and they either obey the rules set by the owner or they don't shop, its not like this is the only place in the whole town to buy food. Nice and easy but they have no right to condemn the OWNER for introducing a dress code in his store.
14. modesty
Dave Severy ,   Baltimore, MD, USA   (06.13.12)
You don't have to wear a burka ladies. But a lot of men and women don't want to see your cleavage, your lumpy butts or even your svelte, voluptuous attributes. Are you so vain and/or insecure that you must parade around for wanted and unwanted attention? And some men are just as self absorbed. Notwithstanding, HaMashiach loves and forgives.
15. Are non-jews allowed to shop?
James   (06.13.12)
16. Haim T.A
Alice ,   Montreal, Canada   (06.13.12)
This store is not for you. It's for Haredim and was created for Haredim. Now, boycott will only hurt the "people' who are reminded to dress properly.
17. Nobody is FORCING you to buy there
BEN JABO (MACHAL) ,   ISRAEL   (06.13.12)
It's an easy problem to solve, use your money by spending it somelace else They made a choice, make your own
18. #5 youre wrong
Ze'ev ,   Nbg, germany   (06.13.12)
the signs in USA speak to ALL customers, not only to women, like here in Israel. And begging the cutomers to wear shirts and shoes is a really differnt case compared to the attempt to force women to follow guidlines of religious extremists. In the US its about manners, in Israel its about misogyny and religious coercion.
19. Tolerance is a two-way street!
Udo Mannes ,   Netanya, Israel   (06.13.12)
We Israelis (and Jews in general too!) should learn to reduce our "ME" in favour of the "YOU"! So if a shopkeeper feels that customers or employees might feel offended by less modest dressed people, why can we not accept to come more modestly dressed or shop in an other shop? Would you go into a church with a hat on your head or in a Bikini ? Respect your fellow man and you will get respect. !!!
20. Whiners!!! I am not religious and went into a super ..
Netanya ,   Netanya   (06.13.12)
where they asked me to put on a coat (similar to a lab coat.) & I had no issue with it. What is the big deal? The store doesn't make you put on a million things, just a stupid thin fabric lab coat. The store has airconditioning and there is no reason that I would have been upset or offended. Seems that the Israelis are whiny stupid babies to make this an issue. There are so many problems which are real and those who have time to write this crap or take pictures really should get a life. This is not about being spit on or abused, just respecting others by putting on a simple piece of cloth, which they give to you. Come on...stop the BS crying, unless you want to start calling yourselves palestinians.
21. #10 Typical Israeli Lack of Respect for Others
Netanya ,   Netanya   (06.13.12)
I went into the store with shorts and a t-top and was asked politely to put on the coat (that they gave me.) Nothing more, very simple request I find how many people dress and all the ugly tattoos and nose rings, etc much more offensive. But yet I live with it. Most Israelis are just too rude to care about anyone else, it is one of the worst things in Israel, lack of respect for others. I especially find it difficult eating when my waiter/waitress is full of holes in his/her face and rings in cheeks, eyebrows, etc. Driving every day I feel it and the israelis should become less selfish and more concerned about others. It is maybe the biggest downfall of Israel and living with these people. I write this as a non-religious person who only keeps kashrut in my house but dresses in short skirts an d wears a bikini on the beach. This article stinks of a spoiled arrogant brat who cannot do anything to make anyone else comfortable, even the smallest thing.
22. easy math: women forced to wear black shawls = IRAN
Ze'ev ,   Nbg, germany   (06.13.12)
not more to say...
23. #3 R - it wouldn’t happen.
solomon ,   bklyn   (06.13.12)
Only in your wishful thinking to create “equivalency”.
24. why i will never perform aliyah
courtney ,   usa   (06.13.12)
country is not as "beautiful" as i had previously thought
25. Haim from tel Aviv
David ,   Haifa Israel   (06.13.12)
is a north tel aviv draft dodger or arab. either get out of my country since you hate it so
26. learn to read
yaabetz ,   NYC   (06.13.12)
The sign says: - - - - - - - BS"D Dear Daughter of Israel: Entry requires modest attire. For your convenience, shawls are available at the door. Thank you, Zol L'mehadrin - - - - - - - That has an entirely different tone from that conveyed by the reporter's rendition. Maybe your reporters should be instructed to leave their prejudices at the door.
27. Any mention of religion and were iran LOL
Open ,   Up   (06.14.12)
I understand how this may be offensive but why are Israelis so scared of religion? Religion can be beautiful and im not talking about the extremist nut cases who corrupt their own religion in Iran. Jews and Judaism is beautiful we should stop being so narrow minded
28. #25 David -Haifa :supporting Teliban style supermarkets
Haim ,   TA   (06.14.12)
How further from the truth could you Possibley be ? You really have no idea of who i am - LOL Unfortuently your quest for right wing religious domination of our country and support for Teliban style supermarkets just hit a hit a snagg. We will now be posting on facebook a campaign to boycott this supermarket. Your posting inspires me to do more. Keep up the good work as you clearly demonstrate the need to fight this danger to democracy and freedom of choice, im sure your wife will look just great in a burka !
29. A Teliban style supermarket opening near you soon
Haim ,   TA   (06.14.12)
Apart from the usual over priced dairy products they will be offering discount burkeas at 50 % off to the first 100 customers ! Hurry now while stocks last..
30. A few Amazon-like women will defeat them.
Michael ,   California, USA   (06.14.12)
Haredim will run away when a topless woman fighter with bow and arrows will enter the store and spit on their shawls.
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