I'll take a monthly pass please, once it comes on line.

Stop kvetching and start living in the real world.

I guess if I walked around all day dressed like people did in Poland in the 18th century I would also object to any form of progress including those that would give Jerusalem back to the pedestrians

If you don't like it , Bye Bye . We don't neet unproductive hatefull people

So, only YOUR quality of life counts and only YOU have the right to organize and petition for the services you need/want?

Go find some real news!!!

You are becoming like an old "78". As a hareidi, I, and most of my peers, work, pay taxes, ride buses, etc. If I choose to shvitz in a hat and jacket - that's my choice - and if I wear deodrant(!) then I am certainly not disturbing your sensitivities - other than reminding you that there are still Jews who wish to be distinguishable as Jews. Now - as a tax paying person, don't I have the same right to public transport that doesn't involve masses of bare flesh, as you do to have what you consider a necessary part of being a secular Jew?

Whats their problem now? now they can get to the welfare office quicker to get there social benefit checks !

"You are becoming like an old "78". As a hareidi, I, and most of my peers, work, pay taxes, ride buses, etc. " The Central Bureau of Statistics disagrees with you. I trust them more than your word.

If you , and most of your peers work and pay taxes , tell me why the towns with the most charidim are the poorest in Israel . What you wear is no problem for me , my grand parents had the same clothes , but they lived in East Europe , not in a hot Israel . You can have the public transportation you want , pay for it . But this "bare flesh" was not the reason why your "rabbis" oppose the light railway . For me a MUST for MY , and your , undivided Eternal Capital that deserve a modern public transportation .

article raises all kinds of basic questions which the journo DELIBERATELY leaves unanswered. It's just a trashing the observant piece, nothing more. (no, I'm not haredi).

The Bridge and train are Materialism aka secular Zionism. They are in fact forcing their falsehood on the Holy City. Tel-aviv is a modern city with no history and no spiritual heritage what so ever, Jerusalem is a 3.000 year old city and is also known as the spiritual center of the world. Without the spiritual their will not be any Torah Judaism left and that is why Jerusalem is being transformed into Tel-Aviv by the seculars in their effort to eradicate Torah. Secular Zionism and Torah Judaism are opposites. Without Torah, Without the land or without The Nation their will be no Israel.

have physical room for the train? this whole city is about to become one huge parking lot.

If you hadn't noticed, Israel is a democracy, not a theocracy where religion rules all. If the Haredim have genuine "special needs", then they can appeal to the authorities. If these special needs are not genuine, then the Haredim can arrange their own alternative transportation that suits their needs, just like any other person or group with special needs. I personally object to the "religious terrorism" practiced on some of the "kosher" bus lines-- assaulting a person because they refuse to "go to the back of the bus" went out with Momma Rosa Parks in the 50s.

When the Haredim are a majority, then you can expect your wishes to be prioritized before the minority. Until then, the majority rules in a democracy. If you have a problem with that, then solve it. As for "bare flesh", you have a simple, honorable solution: DON'T LOOK!

Where do they think all the buses will go once Yaffa road is closed to bus traffic? The narrow streets in Geula can hardly handle the traffic as it is now. Don't think the transportation department thought out the whole picture. Pity!

fragile judaism is coming under attack from all sides.

They'll come around and start using it. The new light rail will just be too convienent not to use, Mehedrin or not.

then you can have a say. In the meantime, what's it to you? Since you have no problem shutting the world down 14-15% of the time, clearly you have nowhere urgent to go.

the religious will always find something wrong with what is being done. i hope that no one pays attention to them. they have caused enough damage to the country as is. they are parasites that do nothing for the country except complain.

First of all isn't there an adage that says the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few? Secondly the Haredim in NYC ride the subways and take buses in Manhattan, Bronx,Queens and Brooklyn if they can do it and their Rabbis don't object why can't the Haredim here do the same thing? Is the Rabbi here making a distingtion betwen the Haredim here being superior to the Haredim in Bensenhurst Brooklyn?

Easy - while most of the country prefer the 2 kids and a dog mentality - we prefer kids. Just remember - in a generation, the way secular birthrates are going - dati/chareidi are going to be the majority.

No, they are petitioning against losing a)the rerouting of buses around the too-narrow streets in Geula and b)the sex-segregated lines(which all have non-segregated equivalents BTW for those who don't want to use them).

I don't understand why the Light Rail will be a problem. If Jerusalem is so such a holy significant city, in my opinion, it would be of utmost importance to protect it from the ravages of pollution caused by automobile emissions. THe light rail would ease up the heavy traffic with in the city and it would make it easier for people from the outlying areas to commute. If the city is so sacred to the Haredim they should applaud the decision.

No 24 - if you become the majority who will support you. You are poor now, most of the men dont work, you have a high poverty rate, you dont go to the army - most of your children dont learn anything useful so how will they ever contribute to the country.in fact what do you contribute to the country. Do you really think that the average Israeli will go on supporting you - I dont think soI

I am Shomer including Nagiah but I object to the Meshuganah Chumrah of the Some Charedim with buses. These Orders are given by senior Rabbi's who get driven about in private cars by their drivers. Pure Shtuyot that should be rejected by all in Israel religious or not. They travel on non Haredi buses when it suits them.

What's the problem - the chareidi won't be able to force the women to the back of the train as they do on busses? Oh, I know they'll be deprived the opportunity of harrassing/slapping women who chose to sit where they want.

Yes, friend - you are quite right: charedim will be the majority in Israel. And they will have to work. Teach your sons some useful job right now - there's still some time left. My children will not slave for yours, I swear - We have left already.