The sooner those demented Haredim understand it isn't THEIR city, the happier everyone will be... even them. They are not the protectors of Jerusalem, nor are they God's appointed kosher food Rangers - it's the capital city of every Israeli. And, if they care SO MUCH about it, why are they constantly rioting and causing millions and millions of shekels worth of damage? Or is someone going to say 'that's different"? Our weak feeble government should not be blackmailed, threatened or bullied by these sick frenzied animals – time to make a stand.

i'd be afraid that my congregants might see what really really good food tastes like and end up leaving the narrow, rigid lifestyle i fully control. who knows, the men might see a girl's ankle and convert to christianity, oy veh.

They're serving non-kosher food in the Christian and Muslim Quarters. SO WHAT. Provided this food festival is primarily geared to tourists, not Israelis, I don't see what the problem is. As a compromise, make all advertising in English only - not Hebrew.

kinda sad, when not even the rabbis know, what the(ir) old city is like...

And I say,it's a disgrace that these damn haredim impose their will in a free city. They are the part that contradict judaism; they wish to spread their filthy ghetto life in a city that isn't theirs..They didn't fight for it, didn't work for it and they don'.t keep it clean. The only thing they excel, are riots, damage, more filth, causing huge amounts of OUR money to be wasted, while they continue to schnorrer from our stupid govt, who continues to pay them. A better mouse trap wasn't invented, could't find anything in the torah that would prod them in being half decent citizens.

What makes this festival different from any other day in the year? Are the Haredim now trying to dictate kashrut requirements to the Christians & Muslims living in Jerusalem? Why on earth would they think they have that right? The government, local and national, have to tell these rabbis that they should go take a walk...

really religious ones it is as easy as that! G-d wants you to take care of yourself and live well with your fellow man...you no doin' goo' in that! Get wis the progran already!

"...will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex; will guarantee full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture; will safeguard the sanctity and inviolability of the shrines and Holy Places of all religions; ..."" No one is forcing anyone to go to the non-kosher places or to eat there, but the non-Jews certainly have the right to do so - and so do secular Jews for that matter.

There was an American Festival at Cosmos(Supersol), but not in Afula. The alleged "rabbi" would not say the OU label was "kosher". The same happened years ago in Greenberg Bros. supermarket. The moron said "Manischewitz" gelfitre fish was not "kosher" ,because the store did not pay for the local "kosher" stamp of approval. But across the road, it was kosher for Passover at the Mega supermarket.They paid. Time to make Israel KOSHER and remove the hara-dim from our Jewish lives!

The Haredim are getting more and more like the arabs with their irrational demands, so why don't they have their very own DAY OF RAGE for entertainment when the festival is taking place?

let them protest there, and see what happens to them. They never miss a chance to force their life style on others, this time they are targeting people of other religions telling them what they can and cannot eat. They are the scum of the earth.

Now, this should scare everybody: "Lithuanian leader Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyahiv [ will ] order haredi representatives at the City Council to quit the coalition as an act of protest." The only thing worse than this will be when all the Haredim will get up and leave Jerusalem for Lithuania. Those Lithuanians are so starved for Kosher food they cannot wait for the Haredi cooks to get there. Just imagine eating non-kosher food at the Jerusalem food festival. Even better, imagine being in Jerusalem and not seeing any black-clad creatures. Then, we'll rename the food festival a Carnival and it will be the happiest event in the history of the city.

Oh good the haradim will have an exuse to go and riot again ,they havent done it for a few months

With any luck, we could be looking at the biggest food fight in the history of the world.

That same Declaration of Independence clearly states that Israel is a JEWISH state and puts JEWISH before democratic. It does NOT declare Israel as a state of Jews. So let's be Jewish and declare KOSHER a state law of the Jewish State of Israel.

Mobody is forcing the Haredim to eat Trefe Next step will be the Haredim demanding that Christian's & Muslim's attend synagogue on Shabbat & all Jewish Holidays

for showing your disgusting hatred . Now more and more SANE Israelis will have more reasons to distance themselve from your "faith" . Congratulations . From today the kitchen of my home will not be kosher anymore

about the idea,that we Jerusalemites, do not have Californian dreams,but a vision of JERUSALEM s sanctity.

to bash Haredim.

They will miss your hospitality.

If they are selling the non-kosher items outside the Jewish quarter, then so be it. Nobody is forcing them to go to the other areas, let alone to purchase the items for sale. How far will they go?

Will they be serving pig, and alchohol in the muslim quarter? (or are they only unconcerned about offending orthodox jews?)

The article and talk backs have been very enlightening for a non-Jew. It's issues like this one, however, that make people the world over question Israeli "democracy". Please just call it a pseudo-theocracy if that's the way it's going to be and be done with the double talk. However, seems that most people don't buy this food-fest foolishness and are willing to let people eat kosher or hot dogs, according to their beliefs. Good for you.

One of them is already sane , others will follow . Only one not , he is too much infected , desesperated case . For him there are "one time" plates and so . Those "rabbanim" do a magnificent job , they help me to heal people , to make them sane .

Michael,if we want to enjoy life FULLY,and do not want anymore that feeling ,that something is missing in our life,we need to give as much care to our soul -the divine part of a human being-as to our body.The Jewish soul is rooted in the Jewish values,written in the Tora.The fate of our soul is placed in our hands.If life is not really working for us- than ,by changing our thoughts -we can create a new and better reality. Sanctity is the element that brings our physical satisfactions up to the 7th heaven. Sanctity needs purity. Like for a parfum,if we want to understand what sanctity really means,we have to smell it. Be happy,Michael.

Why SUDDENLY so cynical? Remember,there are also plenty good Rabbis, As there are plenty fine secular. Forget about bad people-nobody is perfect-and have a succession of fine days,Charles.

My soul is fine, and free, because I am not dictating to anybody what to think, what to do, what to feel, how to live and how to die. I enjoy my life fully, you do not. You are stuck on "Jewish values" which are twisted and turned to serve purposes outside of your control. Those are delivered to you by rabbis and you buy it bulk because you were subdued to thinking these are Torah's interpretations. In my free world, the universally humanitarian values are logical, based on science and goodwill to all. They are superior to your values, to the old Torah and to g. I live in a well perfumed world while you are stuck in the stale air of orthodoxy. Sweetheart, you deserve better than this. Be happy also, if you can, both your body and soul.

and have different opinions.