they have their way of life, now STOP Harrasing Them.Let them stay in their community, with less problems dont add problem to them.I have been there, they are very nice people. I dont understand why you guys want to defame them.Actually they are very poor in material sense but rich spiritualy.They are Hashems Beloved. Live them alone - Let them Be !!!

The Haredi trying to tag me or my family with eggs or dirty diapers better be the fastest running SOB on the planet.

is a sick, sick person. Advocating throwing bleach, feces and eggs in peoples' faces.

Living in an area that gets inundated by tourists in the Summer and again by Students (to our universities) in the Fall, I can empathies a bit with people who live in touristy areas. Tourists can be obnoxious and rude at times. They can also disrespect private property. At times it can feel as if one lives in a goldfish bowl. However, I think the residents of Jerusalem's Mea Shearim and surrounding neighborhoods should try and work with Jerusalem's officials to work out problems they've encountered. It's horrible to think that Jews would throw eggs & dirty diapers at fellow Jews who are tourists. Why cause more anger than already exists between the various streams of Judaism? Couldn't someone from a Jerusalem tourist board be of some help? The tourist board would not want tourists to be pelted with eggs or diapers. They may have some plans that can be implemented that are fair to all parties involved. Another idea is to make these neighborhoods into gated communities. The neighborhood residents should bear the brunt of costs involved, of course. Perhaps something could be worked out with Jerusalem, and other, officials.

I thought the main concept of being a Jew is to spread the light of Torah throughout the world. and sometimes that even includes spreading it to secular Jews. The Haredim need to realize that they actually have an amazing opportunity to spread the beauty and spirituality of their environment to Jews that are not as fortunate to have such a connection to Judaism. But, throwing eggs and diapers? How can Hashem possibly want such a thing? As always, dis-unity is our biggest problem.

Let's focus and get some perspective. Mea Shearim IS NOT the Kothel, nor the Vatican or Mecca. Mea Shearim IS NOT a "holy place" is just a neighbourhood of Jerusalem, which, as far as I know is provided with services such as electricity, garbage collection, etc... which are not precisely paid by its residents. If they happen to be a "popular" tourist destination is because of their fancy clothing and not much more. Since when were they given the right to impose dressing codes on public streets? If they were to shoot a porn film on their streets I would understand their anger, but that's not the case. I honestly doubt that hordes of tourists annoy them a 3am, there are much better places to hang out than Mea Shearim at that hour. And, yes, many people wouldn't dare to go to some muslim cities wearing a top tank or short skirts, so what? We all know how tolerants muslims can be..., does that mean that this guys are as radical and fanatic as the guys in Gaza that we so rightly criticize? I'm afraid so...

Egg throwing at tourists is NOT so nice. (Of course, it is better then stone throwing.) If the Haredi wants to throw something at the visitors -- then they should throw flowers. Throwing flowers is NICER, and more polite.

The whole idea of a self-imposed Ghetto is fine. They should be allowed their cultural autonomy within, without interference from outside. But a Ghetto is a two-way phenomenon, which means that they should remain within their ghetto and not interfere in the affairs of those living outside.

It is nothing more then a tourist event, seeing a different lifestyle which has turned into nothing more then idolotry of men and man made fences. Being critical of their completly ignorant behaviour is not loshon hara. Like anytime a Jew does something wrong, we are to remain silent? That way we can continue to discrace the Name? Like Moshe was silent, the prophets where silent? These people, dressed as a loonatic fringe do not represent Torah in anyway shape or form. They practice something similar to Torah, but have added incredibly to it,, which is against the Torah. Do research on "peyot", what you think they have are peyot according to the Torah? I will tell you where these so called "peyot" they have came from. In Yemen, yes, Yemen. In Yemen you could not really tell a Jew from an Arab centuries ago, so they grew their sidelocks long so you could tell the difference as their dress was the same. Nothing to do with Torah.

I suppose this is what our religious eccentrics otherwise known as "meshuganas" are studying in yeshiva. You can take people out of the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out of the people. Once we had great scholars of Torah like Maimonides who was a great physician as well as Torah scholar & philosopher. Now we have scholars of narishkeit.

I THINK THE HAREDI COMMUNITY INMEA SHAARIM, SHOULD, INSTEAD OF CHASSING AWAY THE TURIST, CHARGE FOR THE SHOW. MAKE A DRESS CODE RULE AND CHARGE A MODEST FEE FOOR ANY ONE WHO WANTS TO VISIT THE MEA SHEARIM FOR AMMUSMET REASONS. HANUKKA GELT

...well, we all know what they do when they feel a little disagreeable about something.

The RamBam's primary focus was Torah, his 'secular' scientific/philosohical studies were driven by his desire to better understand the 'mysteries' of the Torah. Before a Jew today can be like the RamBam, he first needs to understand the Torah like him and have the same passion for closeness to G-d like he had. that is the job of the yeshivas, which is a real challenge in the anti-religious, immoral, materialisitic and hedonsitc cultures of today, which attempts to seep into the Torah observant community through any available nook and cranny. Hence, keeping these unhealthy spiritual influences out is a priority, if we're to ever have jews of the stature of the RamBam, IMHO.

a load of nonsense thanks again for hating on haredim look at the people that lapped it up like hungry dogs!

keeping torah a priority is one thing, but to the exclusion of all else is another. could the rambam's teaching be considered great if he followed the haredim's example? obviously not. you cannot compare him with the religious of today because they have practically NO knowledge of anything else, basic work ethic included. if not, prove me wrong and show me the examples. what scholarship, positive influence remains from their efforts? i doubt the rambam would feel complemented being compared to them.

I have never heard any of the Religious pleading peyot or whatever else they wear is part of Torah. It is a traditional way they like to wear and live and we have nothing to do with this. I hate either to see women with almost the whole breasts out of the t-shirt or the pants sticking on the body and showing almost their tripes.I don't like either to see "men"swaggering their rears in tightened pants,attracting other "men"like them,and despite of that I must keep silent and "respect"them. The same should you do regarding the Religious community.They deserve the same respect as you deserve ,in the enviroment they live. After,if a Nazy-G'od forbid-tear their tsi-tsits and root up their beards in cold blood,do not complaim"ooooooh,look what they do with us!",because your way of talking about them is almost equivalent of the most hateful nazi,in my opinion.

Without any proof whatsoever of its claims of secret meetings Ynet has published an article that is obviously intended to stir hatred and violence. They have even taken a simple photo of residents walking in the streets and captioned it "Preparing for the coming battle?" I would expect such libel to come from the Guardian or some other anti-semitic publication. If a collective law suit would be brought by the residents of Mea Shearim against Ynet for libel and incitement, it seems they would have a pretty solid case.

Crowds aren't my favorite thing, along with long lines and long waits. If the residents of Mea Shearim own the land, to include the streets, the walls & the open spaces within the same, they have a right to complete privacy. However, if tax moneys maintain the streets, walls & open spaces, they cannot refuse access. I can sympathize with people of reasonable moral standards (i.e., Bible-based) not wanting to see objectionable sights. Perhaps another way to deal with the incursion would be to ignore the tourists completely. They don't have to give any service or sell any merchandise (are there shops there?) and maybe Israeli civil law could be used to prohibit picture-takng under right to privacy provisions.

Why answer curiousity with hate and violence? Welcome the visitor and offer your reason for gratitude to God. Pre-adventure you may convert a few. Why contiue in the shadows of blind guides and hypocrites. The very same who killed our fathers and the prophets. You choose David or Ahab!

I have the opinion that they,the residents of such neighbourhoods,should care less about the visits,and instead profit them in order to teach people that are curious ,something about Torah,or even something about the 7 laws of Noah to the non Jews. I don't think nowadays it is possible to be completely isoleted.I guess now is the time of acting .

The only "advantage" of such articles are,maybe,for we to see what is in people's minds and try to cure this anomaly going on in the society. But,it certainly could be written in a more positive manner.

If they are so strong and full of energy, why not using it to serve in the army? I did my duty between 1976 and 1990, Shlom Hagalil included, but I'm not an othodox. Theo Ghefner

Being modest is fine. Saying one is equivalent to a nazi! This is respect?? You obviously do not know much about the haredim. Try and live with them for a while and see how they hate. Not all, but some of them. Have you been threatened by them, almost killed by them, all in the "name of a god?" I do not hate them, I hate their actions. Actions that are worse then the goyim. If you think anyone who hates their actions, but not them is a nazi, you should seek medical attention. I don't like the actions of certain Jews, but have no problem with them. I know their traditions and halakhot inside and out and respect them when I am around, the respect is not returned. Re read my tb, there is nothing nazi about it. I thought you where half decent, but that has changed, I guess we call all be wrong.

Mike, this person you refer to. As far as him being kosher, that I don't know. As far as what he teaches, I don't agree with some of it. On that Torah site you went to the other day, there is about a 800 page document called the jesus and the christ, a lawyers perspective . If you can't find it email the administrator. (its free) He's cool. Back to the other guy, I have read most of his material and his conclusions are not mine. Does he have some incredible findings, sure, can a person deal with all of them, probably not, but does not make them all false. Just like the movie by Simcha, the burial box one, contraversial, of course. True, most likely. Does that change my knowledge, not at all, it just confirms it, and proves that the Torah has been proven again and again. That subject is so touchy to many people, accepting some facts does not change our beliefs. Maybe both sided can learn something here without such hatred. Let me know how you made out. Good luck.

In response to this, I as a non Ultra-Orthodox Jew, will throw eggs from my car at every tzitzit-wearing person with a fuzzy hat I see walking down Fairfax Ave. After all, dressing like pre-enlightenment Polish peasants goes against the Sephardi, Torah-based morals of my community and such immodest and strange manners of dress are not something I want my younger cousins or the children in my community to see and consider acceptable. Residents of Mea Shearim, PUH-LEEZE!!!!!! Have you forgotten the mitzva of loving your neighbor as yourself?

Rambam's famous work was the Mishneh Torah... How did Rambam become the topic of discussion again?

What wonderful fellows. Hope their tourism fails and they go broke. I wonder if the God who so mercifully brought them out of Egypt and kept forgiving them of their sins (which were many) really digs this behavior?

How would they feel if we pelted them with eggs or diapers when they entered my area dressed 'innappropriately' in haredi garb. Would it be fair for me to argue: "I do not want my children to see such a thing. What do I NOT live in Mea Shearim for?" The one good thing about this is that it shows that they are really scared of the external world coming into their little bubble and are getting more and more desparate to preserve it at any cost. You can't fight progress.......