Hared in Hebrew means to be full of fear. In this case the Haredim are fearful for the "loss of Judaism" and see themselves as the keepers and protectors, hence their outrageous behaviour. They have no monopoly over the Jewish religion, they have no legal authority and they certainly have no moral authority over others. If they want to be fearful, that is their right, cry, pray, tear out their hair, whatever, but don't impose it on others.

I apologize, I was talking to #29, the guy that wants to get rid of a whole population, Good night and Shabbat Shalom

Some Muslims say the translation of "Islam" is "peace." You believe that too? (Of course, as Sagi said, you've mistranslated "Haredi," and "Islam" is better translated "submission.") To say that hooligans who call themselves Haredi and who justify their actions based on "Torah" are not, somehow, Haredi, is just goofy. Islamic terrorism DOES derive from Islam, just as Jewish terrorism derives from Judaism. When a population has a propensity for violence--and the Haredim DO--there is a problem with their belief system.

strict interpretation of halacha is not the same as kassams and suicide belts. you are no better than the united nations with your moral equivalency of jews and terrorists

"Eight protestors were arrested and one was evacuated, unconscious, to hospital. " the author mentions so causally how the police beat a 50 yr man unconsious. How long will the police brutality against the frum go unreported by the media?

Those people in this mosque also want to impose their "religious" laws on others , in a more violent way . If those charidim here are only a minority as some tb's tell , why do the "good" charidim not react against this , why do charidi rabbanim do'nt condemn this ? Those violent "people" have no place here , let them go back to their dark ages shtletlech in east europe .

Uzi, get the facts right - this happens in Ramat Bait Shemesh Bet and NOT Aleph - the normal religious jews of Aleph would not tolerate such a disgrace.

Not all Haredim are like that.The article should not generalize. Those who did that should respond for it ,and only them. Now,if the MAJORITY of residents don't want "imodesty" in the town,they shoul be respected as anyone else in a democratic country. If the right of the gays are respected,the rights of the Haredim should be respected too.

You had a report , here . But where was written that this man , first , was beaten by police [ maybe a heart attack , or something due to the heat ] , secondly was a 50 year old one ? If you have other sources , proof that this police "violence" is well reported . Regarding those "frum" , they are not acting religiously , more as beasts , and if "beaten" by police , they deserve it .

We're all supposed to be Jews! For crying out loud, Why can't we all just get along?????!!!!!!

As a ramat bet shemesh alef resident I have to say that this place has turned into a chredi ghetto! Tznius signs everywhere I go! In my eyes I dress modestly, but to charedi eyes I dont, so dont look! Seperate seated busses???? Why in the world do I have to sit at the back of the bus seperated from my husband??? A large amount of the anglo comuunity are leaving. Such a chaval because this would have been the perfect place to live. I have to stand outside shefa shuk for an hour (more than once!!!) with my groceries waiting for a cab for so long because the cabs cannot get through bet because of the rioting! CHILUL HASHEM!!!

What is important is that it happens and that the law is helpless. It is an outrage to have KKK organizations and ideology and behaviour in a modern democracy in the 21st century. Or perhaps I am halucinating and we are actually living in Alabama circa 1900. Very sad.

It is not right for secular Jews to go into a religious community and take down their signs that tell visitors to respect their wishes and please dress modestly. If Jews are not in Israel for the love of Hashem and Torah, then why are they there? Even here in New York, the police would not go into a religious Jewish neighborhood and take down their signs on modesty. But it shows you the hatred that secular Jews have for the religious. It is the same hatred that let millions of religious Jews be slaughtered in the Holocaust in order to justify the creation of a secular state for Jews. That hatred runs deep.

I work with people both modern and haredi who live there and on the border. If these people were secular they would be punished. It is a small secter of haradim or shall i say (dress like Them) because these people are not mitzva observant. Even the rabbi's of the community are scared to stand up against them. I would suggest these people should be forced to pay arnona as a punished and to pay for the damage they cause like community service by cleaning up the street and if not let baylifs come in and take stuff as commpensation. maybe that would mak them think twice about going around burning cars etc.

They're demanding higher standards of modesty in THEIR neighborhoods, no? If so, it is their right. And if they need to do so with protests and riots, why not? It is a worthy cause.

Bet Shemesh has been in existence for many many years, before 1948. It was a secular community with no Haredim. Possibly it had some religious residents as do most locations in Israel, but no Haredi community. It was the Haredi invasion that started a few years ago that has changed the color of the town. So the Haredim came into a secular town and start to tell others how to run their life. Not vice versa as you stated. It is not the first time this has happened.

and not whitewashing this ugly black phenomena, as many in these columns are trying to do, quite unsuccessfully, I must say. They either live elsewhere or they know someone who lives there, but they and their efforts are sad, sad, sad, even if accentuated in red. 'Splitting hairs' is what they're trying to do, and it's just so transparent. A handful of ugly voodoo creeps from dosneyland are taking over and that's the sad truth. There will be an ongoing vile chapter bet, just like there is Bet Shemesh bet. #41 I feel sad for you, and wish you and your family happiness, probably somewhere else.

You are right charedy means one that is afraid of doing the wrong thing, but translated many times as pius as in Sefer Charedim, the book of the pius. Some people that call themselves charedi do have a violent nature in this country but others that do not call themselves charedi do too, I think it has more to do with the tensions that we live with than with any particular philosophy. Every one here feels very passionate about their own thing, it is the nature of the middle east, you do not see it happening in other places. This talkbacks are just an example unless everyone is jocking and we are all very nice but just having a good virtual time Shabbat Shalom

Is their neighbourhood and they are entitled to live the way they want. I know I wont step there so far as I know, coz it's not my lifestyle- live and let live My question is if it's only a bunch of them "terrorizing " all the rest of hareidim there who might not share the exact same lifestyle But again this is something THEY have to work out amongst themselves- none of what we think counts

What a disgrace that these non-achieving people, who do not even know the three "R's", turn to radical and violent religion as an escape from the real world and their inadequacies. So sad, that as there is nothing else left for them, think that they have the right to impose their will on others. These are the very people, that by their disgusting behaviour, cause anti semitism in the Western World. These are the people that do not give a thing to Israel, yet think they have the God given right to demand, destroy, disturb and dirty the surroundings of decent and hard working people that try so hard to make a life for themselves and their children. Send them to the Negev and let them build their own place to dirty and destroy!

You are wrong , totally . Seculars Jews also make Alyah , just because historically this country belongs to us . Let me also tell you that the 6000 brave Jews , who gave their life for this country in 48 were mostly secular , if not anti religious . The charidim and other ultra orthodox did nothing . Regarding the reasons of the Shoa , look at the quantity of "good" Jews , religious believing people , who were murdered . This was hatred , yes , from non jewish antisemites . Now seeing how the charidi , at least a part of them , behave , how do you want us , seculars , to show sympathy for them ? Do you know the content of this sign ? Did they ask for a permission ? did the owner of this wall agree ? If the police take this sign away , they probably have good reasons .

This is terrible, makes me, as a religious young woman, feel ashamed of all the violence. However, for the sake of the dialougue, between the comunityS we NEED to focus on things that unite US!

when terrorists threw that frail elderly gentleman Leon Klughauff(or similar name,with apologies) off the cruise ship he was on, into the sea, while in his wheelchair. Many years ago. It wasn't their business, THEN either, let the Jews solve it...and just look where we are today, with terrorism, where it just 'aint some 'frail old unimportant Jew', or 'a few Israeli sportsmen'. Indifferrence is dangerous. I presume though that you're a youngish person. We all learn, one way or another...These, our 'own' creeps and thugs in RBS (alef bet gimmel ad taf) are terrorising people too, and making their lives hell...and it IS my business.

one point and one point only. Nobody has the right to dictate to anybody else how to conduct their life. The only law to be observed is the law of the land and the only ones to enforce these laws are the appointed authorities. I don't tell Haredim when and how to pray, how to dress and how to eat. They do not tell me. I have always respected the law. They do not. They all think that "God's law" takes precedence over that of the land, some actively oppose the law and some flout the law. This has to stop and the only way to stop it is prison sentencing.

In the Shoa it was not only the 'good' Jews but every Jew, even those who the ultra orthodox would never consider Jewish. As for secular making Aliyah, I have spoken to many, and they explain it this way. Something in their heart brought them to Israel. Some of them where so far from Torah it was incredible. Their Soul drove this desire. This is from haShem, no doubt. What I cannot fathom is the anti-Israel ultra-Orthodox being there when they hate every ounce of it's existence. What is interesting is that the Mashiakh will not be 'religious' therefore the gate keepers will reject him and the secular will accept him. Maybe the Mashiakh will tell the religious to get lost too. Think about it. Worshipping the creation(rabbi's/halachah etc) over the Creator has cause us much greif. More people have died due to religion then any other cause. Therefore it's time for it to go, then we will see peace for the first time. I did not say get rid of the written Torah, just religion.

No , shiloh , seculars make alyah because , as i have said already , this country is OURS . Historically . Nothing to do with hashem [ are you a jew ? or do you belong to one of those non jewish sects ? ] Others , after the war were looking for a country that is theirs , for Jews , where they could defend themselve against enemies . Nothing to do with religiosity . Edith Stein , a converted Jewess , was also murdered in the Shoa , she was a nun .

Some secular make aliyah because Israel belongs to Jews as you stated. Others have different reasons that I have seen.Secondly you may have not spoken to the many I have spoke to in the absorption center. Now you have contradicted yourself saying a 'converted Jewess" was murdered when I have read that according to you that a goy cannot become a Jew, nor have a Jewish soul. Secondly since it did not have anything to do with religiosity, why was a convert murdered. Now, since you deny G-d, this will explain your reasoning, the only historical record of who is a Jew comes from Torah. Since you deny the historical record of those who followed a monotheistic G-d, then it's obvious by default that you don't belong to them either. Charles, try reading some history and again, go outside, create a blade of grass then get back to me about this. Also, I have never said anything about religiosity. Soften your hardened heart Charles and try not to become just like the one you so much hate. Shabbat Shalom

Why don't these rioting charedim move to Betar Ilit? It is a 100% charedi city. We are always looking for more chumras, the more the better. Perhaps they do not want to because they hold that the "land is stolen by the Zionists"? Maybe psychological help for them is indicated.

Charles you can deny G-d, that's your free will. I have not attacked your beliefs directly. I have tried to show you a different way of looking at some things. If it makes you uncomfortable, I am sorry for that. So hopefully you may see that not only your opinion may have some merit but others have merit also. We should learn from this, not take such a defensive stance to further separate us which sadly is another prophecy being fulfilled. As much as one run's cannot hide from the inevitable. Get that drink ready.