This may be a "cult of women" but they are being manipulated and controlled by a man (think: Warren Jeffs). GET THE MAN and the cult will break down.

More lunacy from our friends in black, i wonder if theres a cure ? Sort of rehab for religious fanatics..

the term "Taliban mom" is from the secular media and yet here we are reading about how the haredi sect is against "Taliban women" ... indeed most intriguing how is it that the Haredi sect which doesn't read secular newspapers or listen to secular radio or watch secular tv knew to use the expression "Taliban Women"? hmmm...very curious!

I live here in Jerusalem alongside women who have adopted the ''taliban'' style which ranges from a 'pancho' to a out and out 'taliban' covering. These woman are in the most, G-d fearing who believe that they are more modest than every one else. They do not realize that part of modesty is not to draw attention to one's self. They are a bit misguided but are trying to do the correct thing. What is sick, however, is forcing their daughters from the young age of five and six to wear these dumb shawls. When I see the faces of these kids and young teens, I see a reflection of sadness touched with obedience. But perhaps compared with the modern orthodox trends for tight tight skirts, tight blouses, and extravagant wigs, perhaps they are reaching out for a balance.

Haredi revolting against extremism: no woman can be forced to shave her hair, are not forced don't wear stupid hats women sit at the front of the bus women are treated as equals not chattels are allowed to pray at the Wall are allowed to sing in the presence of men etc. etc.....

Someone is defending the right to normal religious observance, and trying to protect helpless children (and husbands too?)

Jewliban......

"extra-holiness" "forbidden advice" all this crap is 100% Hassidic thought. So if you want to go against these "extremists" you should also go against Hassidism which is nothing more than Christian heresies of the 4rd century that somehow entered Judaism of the 17th century. (holy men, Rabbis who "know the name of G-d" G-d is in everything...) These people are poisoning Judaism into something it was never meant to be. And Litaim are not far behind either.

The folks afflicted by ASD (Attention Seeking Disorder), as manifested in these benighted women, reflect a common problem in people who exclude themselves from the norms of society. These people essentially become asocial by their exclusivism...yet seek/crave attention by becoming even more "ultra". The Pharisees (exclusive ultras) of 2,000 years ago gave rise to a multitude of sects who were trying to become even more exclusive than the main group they competed with e.g. the Essenes and the Ebionites who stand out as primary manifestations of exclusivist ASD-afflicted groups. What is most ironic is that these strange women are being castigated for their most asocial behaviour by an even larger group of exclusivists...

Tamar, his daughter in law, was sitting in an open place and was covered like with a burka or veil so he could not see her face. Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon says a veiled woman is a symbol of a harlot. The harlot or false religion of fundamental Islam has women wear veils and headscarves. Rabbi Yeshua said a woman's long hair is her covering. She doesn't need a veil or a burka or a covering over her head and face.

to #4,whats sexy about it?dont be such an idiot!!!to #5,you may be right that they wonna be more modest than the tight clothes and fancy wigs,but there is a middle way....im orthodox and look ''normal'',i feel sick when i see those woman with their flapping wings [as i call those cloaks]the men look more at them than at me.its sad what people do in this generation out of boredom.....

Hi Rahel, I am sorry that this is the way that you view some of these points. From my perspective, and I am a religious married man, I would like to mention a few points regarding your post. As far as I know, and I know quite a few people in my community and have lived in Jerusalem for a couple of years: 1) Shaving head thing- Very rare in general, only some Chasidim have the custom of doing so... diferent strokes for different folkes but women are not "forced". 2) Religious women uphold to Jewish Law which does have a certain level of modesty that requires a Jewish married woman to cover her hair because of her holiness... and again she is not "forced" 3) I cannot speak of every situation but I was brought up that Women are treated equally. We have different roles but women are DEFINATELY not treated down, or at least it is not ok for one to do so. 4) If by wall, you are referring to the western wall, they are allowed to pray there. 5) Again, Jewish law.. and not forced on them.

not led by men, led by women who want to set themselves up as quasi rabbinical authorities

These people shouldn't be allowed to marry and reproduce. People like that should be encouraged to live celibate in isolation.Or minimally, psychologically evaluated and institutionalized.The homosexuals I know are more self respecting and behave more in a chaste way than these estranged Taliban women.Where are their husbands? Why the deafening silence from the men who want to control every aspect of their women's lives?

The cult was actually started and is lead by the Taliban mom. Which apparently is one of the reasons some Charedim have a problem with it (since it wasn't started by a Rabbi).

Are they Jewish, overzealous Converts, or Hamas implants. Even if partially true. someone has to tell them that there is only that which is halakically demanded from a woman to be modest, anything else is mental illness, or one of the other crazy Prophet replacement religions, not the Torah of Moses.

there's a lot of judaism in chassidus, but no chassidus in judaism. a lot of black hat sephardis also went off the deep end....

I'm with the Haredim on this one. Part of it setting the line between Judaism and something else. What's even more amazing is that they are doing so within their own circles. The burqa does not belong among Jews. It does not belong here, and if necessary should be banned from use within our community.

Cults revolve around a powerful figure controlling the lives of psychologically dependent individuals. The leaders are often psychopaths, who manipulate their "flock" for illicit reasons, or people who are delusional. Those who are taking steps to counter this cult should be applauded, not lambasted here.

These poor souls need psychotic medications, maybe a stint in an institution.

The Haredi cult, who have warped and distorted Judaism, condem a group who has taken their thinking to a logical conclusion, and now they condemn them.

there is a fine line between not 'forcing' a woman to shave her hair, wear a veil or burka- and suggesting to her that she SHOULD if she wants to be a good Jewish or Muslim housewife... I am talking about orthodox, extremists etc.. read #12- what is correct now?

just like zionisem!

haim - get a life !

Charedit population of Israel. Now, could they also put pressure on the Edah Charedit, those Jews who cavort with the enemes of Israel and work towards our extermination? Why we even allow the Edah Charedit to dwell amongst us, to visit Ahmadinejad and to participate in anti-Israel protests is beyond my understanding.

It is a shame that the Haredi leadership don't look at themselves in the mirror as we lead up to Rosh Hashana. The Taliban women are a logical extension of the desire to constantly be stricter in the adherence of the minuscule mitzvoth but to totally ignore the moral values of the Torah. The wearing of the burka is not worse than the wearing of floor length skirts and dark stockings in the heat of summer, just a different costume. But where was this moral outrage in the disrespectful way Rabbi Druckman ws treated, the terrible way "strangers" aka Russians are treated, the absolute lack of responsibility for Israeli society which includes widows, orphans and strangers which the Torah commands EVERYONE to look after. Either they see someone slightly more extreme than themselves or it is purely a power play because a bunch of women had the audacity to take a position that they are claiming as more halachic than the position of the Haredim.