Jewish Scene
Shas' female workers forced to wear full head covering
Ari Galahar
Published: 06.05.09, 10:25
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70 Talkbacks for this article
1. Shas & Hamas
Cynic #2   (05.06.09)
I suppose they rhyme together.
2. this is how it starts
Lisa   (05.06.09)
I am appalled- women are treated just like their sisters in Islamic countries- men telling them what to do, what to wear, who to see or not to see- it should be a WOMAN'S CHOICE- including who to marry-. I always imagined Israel as a liberal country, democratic, modern- NOT, certainly not this part of Israel.! Not even wigs? Never could understand that idea anyway- if you have hair- why cover it with a wig? I think women in Israel have to stand up and let those chauvinists know how they feel: stop cooking, looking after the house, don't do laundry, etc...no marital rights, ha- this looks like a one way street anyway.. and don't quote the Torah, it is the men reading this into it.....because they want to proof their superiority and power. I am not anti-semite, not anti Haredi, just anti- chauvinist- this is very little to do with religion- it is power.
3. If they don't like, let them find another job
Daniel Breslauer ,   Jerusalem   (05.06.09)
First of all: I have rarely seen such a venomous hate-seeding article. Suggesting that "Iran" would be next?? There are no Jewish women who dress like that and there is no Jewish tradition to dress like that. Next: would the Reform movement, which also has some of its own schools in Israel, allow someone to teach on Reform Judaism there if his beliefs do not match those of the Reform Judaism convention / regulations? Would you attack the police if they were to suddenly forbid women from having long hair, if that would have been permitted for years before that?
4. Consider the savings for the tax payers
Dr D ,   Jerusalem   (05.06.09)
Consider the costs of handling 200-300'000 non violent insane ,crazy, not productive maniac people in close mad houses. Till now we are only paying to insure their votes in the Knesset . How much it will cost keeping them in Mad Houses guarded by 3 shifts of specialized personnel? I love in particular the modest way Shas spiritual leader dresses . Second only to the Papua New Guinea big chief.
5. Aren't these schools government funded?
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (05.06.09)
6. Male workers in secular schools forced to NOT wear a kippah
Michael ,   Jerusalem   (05.06.09)
No we are not in Iran, (lehavdil ben tameh lekodesh) We are living in Israel, where secular school striclty forbid for a religious - lets say believing -teacher to teach "Schema Israel" to his Jewish pupils... Are Haredim worse than Seculars, are Seculars worse than Haredim ? Lets say that one goes with a 3000 years massoret, the other with a 100 years old one ... I know, G.d doesn't exist, we should be modern in these 2009 years ... and accept gay union but you know, there are still people like me that got a brainwash and can have live now with a clean brain.
7. Have we become Iran?
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (05.06.09)
Yes, in many ways we have. Told you so.
8. lol only when shas men will cover their faces first.
ghostq   (05.06.09)
9. Absolutely disgusting
Steve   (05.06.09)
I am absolutely appalled by this. The government should make it illegal for workers to be forced to wear head coverings. This is not Afghanistan. This is not Iran, Saudi Arabia or Gaza. We cannot allow religious fanatics to dictate to people how they can and cannot dress.
10. If they want to protest they can wear a burka for a day
Eric ,   Tel Aviv   (05.06.09)
11. Shas & Hamas
Ari ,   Jerusalem   (05.06.09)
Both are as's missing an "s" ;-)
12. To 6 , but he can wear a kippa !
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (05.06.09)
If "kryiat Shma" is not in the program , he has'nt to teach it .
13. There is complaining & complaining
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim,   (05.06.09)
B"H Comparing our exquisitely Jewish law to our enemy's harsh treatment of women is prove that these complaining ladies in question would be better off not participating in Jewish educational programs.
14. #6 Michael
Markus   (05.06.09)
your argument is no argument. You can be religious, live in 2009, be modest etc. etc. but to impose your religious believes and attire rules in a free country? Nobody says haredim are worse than seculars- no comparison- nobody said God did not exist- how does this relate to women wearing cover? In a public school religious attire separates the children- is that what you want? Instead of learning to live together you separate them? You are not a teacher- I can tell- I am. Gays - never seen a gay person wearing a scarf- really don't bring up farfetched ideas: this is about men forcing the women to wear cover- or find another job- do you think this is fair? religious? Freedom of speech and expression? equality? Think about it!
15. #1
(05.06.09)
Are you a total idiot???? Equating Shas and Hamas? How dare you. You tell that to someone who has family that was killed in a terror attack that this is what you think. What you wrote is shameful.
16. #3
(05.06.09)
There is nothing Halachic about covering ones hair. Actually, some of the biggest rabbis of times past did not have wives who covered their hair at all. For you to imply that one cannot be true to the jewish faith if they do not cover their hair is far from accurate. Learn the Halacha!!!
17. A religious man's comment
Gedaliah   (05.06.09)
Shame on this schools administrators. This is not even religious coercion. This is coercion of tradition that does not stem from any halachic authority of the past. No wonder why so many dislike the religious, they are making up their own practices that are so far from the roots of Judaism. On behalf of normal religious people who believe that achdut is a top priority, I am sorry. Just know that not all religious are like this and that your bashing should be specified and not generalized.
18. Of course the article is incorrect . . .
Shalom   (05.06.09)
Teachers were informed that, as per the religious ruling (psak) of Rav Ovadiah Yosef, the Spiritual Head of Shas schools, the teachers should wear a head covering other than a wig. This is not new; I recall 10 years ago being told that Shas schools require teachers to wear scarves or hats.
19. Go All the Way
leo ,   nyc   (05.06.09)
Why not ban women from leaving their homes without escorts and close down schools for them-in fact why not import some of the Taliban to enforce the rules,,,,yes, Israel will blend into the rest of the Middle East if this keeps up,,,!
20. iran next top model
JEWGIRL ,   UK   (05.06.09)
21. full head covering
sal ,   antwerp belgium   (05.06.09)
Not surprised at-all!!! They go back into time . A way to create a state of ultra idiots!! To_day 2009.
22. At least...
Bernard ,   Paris   (05.06.09)
Jewish madrasas use female manpower!
23. Nothing wrong with that
Susan ,   Kfar Saba   (05.06.09)
Many religious schools require women employees to dress modestly, including a head covering. Schools and workplaces have every right to enforce an appropriate dress code . I worked in a company in the US. If any employee, male or femal e did not dress in a business like way, they got called into the boss' office who explained to them how to dress. My son attended a Shas school. It was the best school that any of my children have ever gone to.
24. to number 6
Susan ,   Kfar Saba   (05.06.09)
Although I am religious, I now work in a secular school. A few of us teachers are religious as are a few of the kids. One male teacher wears a kippah. Sometimes he prays with tefillin in the teacher's room. A few of us ladies wear a hat or wig and a dress to the knees. A few kids also wear a kippa. No one hassles us. All are respected. Maybe you should check your facts before you make such stupid statements.
25. to #19
Susan ,   Kfar Saba   (05.06.09)
I don't know. My son went to a Shas school until two years ago and a lot of the lady teachers wore wigs. There is also the problem that a lot of the human hair used for wigs is from India where the women have their hair cut in a Hindu religious ceremony in a temple.Some would consider that idol worship.
26. Unbeilivable. The things you find to qvech about.
leo ,   USA   (05.06.09)
These women have choice, wear scarfs or find another job. When I come to work I am forced to wear neck tie. I hate it but I like my work. If you are pro-choice doctor you have a choice, make abortions if it is in your job description or change to different (medical?) profession.
27. IF YOU DON'T SEND YOUR KIDS THERE...
shadoil ,   jerusalem   (05.06.09)
THAN WHATS IT ANY BUSINESS OF YOURS!
28. my opinion
Ari ,   S Paulo - Brazil   (05.06.09)
If someone is afraid that this way of dressing will evolve (or involute) into Burka realy doesn’t know the Jewish religion (we have 3500 years of Judaism and show me pictures of people dressed in Burka). The Neither Shas nor Rav Ovadia invented the Torah and its Halachot. The ancestors of all those who are writing covering the head with the Halacha - until they 'evolve' to a way more 'liberal' to view ( "what is beautiful is to be shown" you hear in the streets, sentence coined by men so that women show their selves display for their delight and benefit. Schools of Shas are there for teaching the Jewish way of life, and as such is entitled to request / demand that those who chose to work with them (and no one is required to) following the dress code, which want to be passed to the students. Any entity that promotes a solemn event has the right to ask what would be the proper way of dressing, as do the Colleges at the moment of graduation, for example. The Jewish way of life proposes that our life is a solemn moment, and therefore we should dress as such. Shas's schools serve very well to seek employment when needing one. But do not you follow the way of clothing required by them. Israel is, or at least should be, a Jewish country, so if you can not live within so Jewish, at least in schools that teach Judaism, can go and mount a country in Uganda. Interesting comment from the madam of Kfar Saba.
29. what is the point of these horrible wigs?
rachel ,   usa   (05.06.09)
30. what is wrong with these men who need to have the women
rachel ,   usa   (05.06.09)
covered ?Are they afraid of women's power?
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