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Young woman harassed on bus by haredim
Neri Brenner
Published: 17.02.13, 18:42
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1. Why must Jews be harassed by these
jason white ,   afula,israel   (02.17.13)
hara-dim goyim in our own homeland?
2. "Religion is about respect," not really
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (02.17.13)
It is unfortunate for this lady to have to suffer, but just as the 'righteous' men were not perfect in their thinking, she too, errors by thinking that: "Religion is about respect," Religion is about G-d; man is about error and realizing that we are imperfect both in deed and thought. Only G-d is perfect, the men on the bus were not perfect in their behavior and this lady was not with out fault either. Why cause others a hardship if you can just get up and move your seat?
3. Don't believe a word
Pau ,   Jerusalem   (02.17.13)
It never happened, doesn't happen, and if it does there is always more to the story. It presents a whole world of possibility for someone to vent their issues with Feminism and Religious antagonism all in one single joy ride.
4. What impure thoughts are these men having?
David ,   Hartford USA   (02.17.13)
Such thoughts that they can't control their behavior? These heredi folks have to lighten up- because the rest of Israel shouldn't be coerced into anything because these fellows can't tolerate looking at females. These made-up rules are dumb and only cause Heredi men to become perverts and abusers of women. Better they should show all women great respect by allowing them to sit anywhere.
5. i usually sit in the middle but even that isn't always good
tsfatisha ,   tsfat   (02.17.13)
i usually sit in the middle when going btwn tzfat and jerusalem. and i have also refused to move further back, despite requests. one time, one guy stood all the way cos although there was a seat at the back next to a guy, he didn't want to take it.. even though there were other religious guys at the back. more fool him. a haredi woman sat next to me and asked me to move to the back for the sake of this man. i was in about row 6 or 7. i still refused. i actually think that if separation is necessary/desirable which i don't agree with -then pregnant women and people with children should sit at the front as pregnant women and children usually find it much more likely to develop travel sickness at the back. if the men were really menchlich they would sit at the back, so that women and children would be less likely to throw up. i am an observant jewish woman, and i feel if the men have such a problem with women's presence let them hire their own bus and make it men only, or see a psychiatrist. even moshe feinstein said it was ok to sit next to a woman on a bus/train where the seats are individual. meanwhile this route is notorious - i've even heard of very religious married couples who want to sit next to each other -perhaps the only uninterrupted time they get all week - being given a hard time - and in the past before it was clear that everyone can sit where they like- being made to sit separately.
6. Haredim and busues
ashamed Israeli ,   Israel   (02.17.13)
The next time this happens the woman being harrassed and told to move to the back of the bus should start singing! What will they men do then? Cover their ears? or get off the bus and wait for another "kosher" bus to come along?
7. Enough is enough
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.17.13)
The charedim must hire their own buses. They are not fit passengers on Israeli public buses. The only criticism I have of Ms. Kanteman is that she did not sing at the top of her lungs through the entire trip. I would have.
8. God people
Fad Egypt   (02.17.13)
she is so beautiful, God people are so beautiful, anyway such behaviours made by the haredim must be stopped by law enforcement, Israel isnt Iran and shouldnt be Iran, it is the island of freedom and democracy in the middle east and must continue like that, the israeli government must find a solution to such incidents, especially if the harrased is a beautiful woman like that, she deserves to be treated as a pretty princess not like that, i wish her better life and that she will be able to overcome any troubles shalom
9. This is same way Moslems & Christians are treated all the
James   (02.17.13)
time. Except this would revieve no help from the police.
10. to #2
Ketem ,   Canada   (02.17.13)
"why cause others a hardship if you can just get up and move your seat" ??? You sound like all of the apologists who say that the Holocaust was caused by the Jews.... how was the woman at fault? for standing up for her right to sit where she pleases? We do not live in a world of "Masters and servants" where the servants MUST do as they are told... if you don't like it - then walk to your destination. to Egged: time to take sides...
11. Haredis think they are better...
Eric ,   Toronto   (02.17.13)
...than anyone else. They live and breed on contempt for others. This is not true Judaism. This is disgusting behavior by members of despicable sects. When will the government do something about this. The government has the obligation to protect the true Israelis who work, pay taxes and serve in the army!
12. to n.1
J82 ,   Barcelona   (02.17.13)
To clarify : are you implying that it is acceptable for non-Jews to be harassed?
13. Then you awk "Why is there antisemitism & hatred of Haredim
miki ,   tampa   (02.17.13)
Dear Pau, They don't force women to the back of the bus? They don't force women to walk on the other sidewalk, they dont allow women topray at the Kotel? Where are you living?
14. bus
caleb ,   israel   (02.17.13)
In every instant of this kind of harassment the police should be called until these idiots get the message, arrested or just simply make a private bus line without 'impurities' And BTW under what criterion is she impure according to jewish law?
15. Another week..another BS story ...move on ...
Al   (02.17.13)
16. "Purity"
koose E Mack ,   NY NY   (02.17.13)
A Chassidic gentleman used the services of a local prostitute. When he finished his business he hurried down to go to the Mikveh. About five minutes later he noticed his Tallit Kattan was missing. He turned back and returned to the prostitute and asked her,"Did you see my Tallit Kattan?" She presented him a large cardboard carton and said, "Do you know which one is yours?"
17. Women should learn Karate and use when needed.
Beni B ,   Baltimore   (02.17.13)
This will help curb the harrassments. Once the words spreads that women will defend themselves, they will stop the attacks. -- Police usualy shows up late anyway.
18. You NEVER miss a chance to bash religious people....
shadoil ,   Jerusalem   (02.17.13)
Now its the Haredi people and when there is something politically incorrect you bash Noa's more moderate but intensely pro-Zionist camp.
19. #16 thumbs up ! like it :-)
Yossef   (02.17.13)
segregation is forbidden by law, let enforce the law. Everywhere, on every bus. The Christians have a cross and we, Jews, have Charedim...
20. maybe or maybe not
jan ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (02.17.13)
I take the bus from Jerusalem to Tzfat and back every Shabbat. I dress like a secular woman. I have never had or seen a problem regarding seating on the bus. I'm not suggesting she is not telling the truth. I am saying her story is the exception not the norm.
21. Disagree
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (02.17.13)
I strongly disagree with Egged's policy as stated in this article. If an individual (m/f, religious/secular, Jewish/Moslem/Christian, or whatever), is being obviously harassed it is imo the driver's duty to intervene and put a stop to such harassment.
22. These IDIOT relious freaks
Ron ,   Canada   (02.17.13)
These religious idiots need to be put in jail. As I Jew I can't stand them. Sickening.
23. We NEED Lapid + Bennet Jewish Spring!!!
V masks for Purim ,   Jewish Spring Israel   (02.17.13)
24. why do incidents with haredi make the national news
zionist forever   (02.17.13)
So we got some trouble making hared big deal, we got trouble making seculars, trouble making arabs, trouble making foregin workers. The only ones who ever make the headlines though are the haredi Not supporting what they do but I am sick of MINOR incident of harassment on the bus in this case it just happened to be haredi making the trouble. When the haredi do something major fine its news but this its not even worth a headline.
25. If i where there i'd kick som haredi butt
yoni   (02.17.13)
26. #2
Shimon ,   USA   (02.17.13)
Why not ask Rosa Parks why she didn't just "get up" and move her seat? Religion is of course about respect - I agree with you there, but this is an issue of someone taking rabbinic laws too far. Putting a "fence" around the Torah is one thing, but putting an entire moat around it is another. Their actions were disrespectful and demeaning. Civil rights laws exist for a reason - the "back of the bus" is not equal.
27. Egged could stop this tomorrow
Abe Froman ,   NY, NY   (02.17.13)
Egged could stop this tomorrow by instituting a policy of automatic ejection of unruly male passengers, no matter where on the route they are. Egged's policy of non-interference of harassers is fueling this problem.
28. When I was in Israel for four months in 2006 and rode the
Rivkah   (02.17.13)
buses a lot, the Haredi women on the bus were kind to me and the Haredi men ignored me, wherever I sat. The issue of insisting women sit in back was not apparent then. It seemed safer to sit near the driver if possible. Soldiers gave up their seats to the elderly I noticed. But now there seems to be a problem with women sitting up front for their protection. A very polite woman from Netanya named Ronit who worked in a pharmacy there took me to visit her parents and she led me to the back of the buses being an exquisitely polite person, not wanting to offend anyone. She took the least position which is what the larger vessel does: lets the smaller vessel rest on it instead of crushing it by resting on the larger vessel. That is what Confucius said of the greater person who is usually a woman who he describes as a larger vessel who takes the lower position being a greater person. The lesser person is a smaller vessel Confucius says and takes the higher position. In the case of buses, the lesser persons would be the males who insist on sitting up front where the smaller vessels should be for their protection. Confucius saw the women as the larger vessel just as the Haredi see the women as the larger vessels, the greater persons, or males would not insist on the front of the bus where smaller vessels or lesser persons belong.
29. It is high time 2 JAIL 1 of these IDIOTS, 2 teach them
Big Mouth ,   On the face   (02.17.13)
A lesson. Women serve in IDF and pay TAXES, so they must be RESPECTED.
30. Haredi Bashing
Miriam Woelke ,   Jerusalem   (02.17.13)
I am taking the bus from Jerusalem to Zfat and back quite frequently and no one has ever asked me to move seats. I sit wherever I want and I have never ever faced a complaint in years. The same on the bus from Zfat to Tel Aviv. However, I am not surprised that this site always offers a platform for haredi bashing.
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