Opinion
I won’t sit at the back of the bus
Tanya Rosenblit
Published: 18.12.11, 18:17
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1. The answer is 0 tolerance of the religious and
tom ,   tel aviv   (12.18.11)
of their "Ways" . Average, sane people often regress to a particularly reverent state of behaviour when facing an individual dressed in black fur hat in the middle of August! There's nothing Holy or mysterious about their beliefs. They deserve our full, unconditional disdain and ridicule and we should do it openly and loudly! Trust me, the sky will not open up and swallow us, the Infidels. Let's clean the stables! By all means~ BE ANTI RELIGIOUS! it's no shame.
2. To the contrary ...
laura j. ,   USA   (12.18.11)
The author makes a lot of excellent general points. But the bottom line is that she won the argument. The policeman accepted her refusal to move and she prevailed. Kol ha kavod to her! So how does this demonstrate a lack of individual freedom in Israel? To the contrary, the bigots lost and had to wait for another bus. Anywhere else in the Middle East, it would not have turned out this way.
3. there is another side to the story
Golan ,   modiin   (12.18.11)
and I would like to state clearly that I think the segregated bus is anti-Torah.
4. You are a inspirational woman.
Michael ,   West Jerusalem/NY   (12.18.11)
Be proud of what you did. No one has the right to disrespect you like that!
5. A sane voice in the midst of insanity
Idfmom ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.18.11)
6. It's themselves they think so little of.
nibor ,   israel   (12.18.11)
Not women. They're so afraid if they sit next to a woman they will lose total control and sexually molest her. It's really themselves they put down. They credit themselves with "0" sanity and "0" self-control.
7. Bus segregation
Kibbitzer ,   Karmiel, Israel   (12.18.11)
If the Jewish Taliban don't like women sitting in dignity wherever they choose in a public vehicle then they have a choice. They can walk, as far away from any woman as they like. What they can't do is impose their 15th century views on half of the population. These bigots are a danger to Israeli democracy and pluralism and must not prevail. This is not Iran and must never become Iran.
8. Thoughts on this incredible story
Ariel ,   Toronto   (12.18.11)
This is a story characterized as discriminatory and sexist against women, and that cannot be OK. Extremely Orthodox Israeli Haredim, please look around you, look at Egypt for example, how the police beat female protestors with bayonette's and truncheons over the weekend, look at Saudi Arabia, where close to 60 people this year alone have been executed by way of beheding, most for simply being women with a voice...is this the path for us to be going down?!?! It starts with sexual discrimination on a bus...
9. How much longer will we put up with
jason white ,   afula, israel   (12.18.11)
the hara-dim? They want to impose their cult like views on us Jews. Enough with that. The cop should have arrested the leader of these cavemen. We have to find someplace to send these hara-dim. I bet we could buy part of the Gulag and send them there by cattle boat.Let them do whatever they want there and let us Jews alone forever.
10. Woman of the Year!
yaakov ,   TA   (12.18.11)
Tanya, you are the Rosa Parks of Israel! Let many, many others follow your example, Bravo!!
11. Israel always bragging about being best of the worst.
Tamara   (12.18.11)
Sorry to disappoint you Laura, being from the Middle East, no one has ever asked me to sit at the back of any bus
12. Modern Day Pharisees
yitzhak ,   Zambia   (12.18.11)
And yet they embrace the Torah
13. Women to the back
Eliana ,   Dallas, USA   (12.18.11)
While I understand Ms. Rosenblit's feelings concerning the haredi custom for men to avoid following women, (hence not sitting behind them on a bus), it seems that if she wants to take the bus through their neighborhood, she should respect the customs they consider important. Wouldn't she do the same if she were in a religious Arab nation or any other country where she would experience customs that she does not normally follow?
14. EXCELLENT writing!
roxanne ,   haifa/san francisco   (12.18.11)
i am so sorry you had to experience that treatment, but thank goodness it was you, for you articulate all the important points of this issue. you are my new hero and i will follow your leadership in this fiasco!!!
15. need to chill out a bit
Gaby ,   Boston, MA   (12.18.11)
The Haridim do not want to segregate the buses out of pure malice. According to their customs the men should be close to a woman in public and it is difficult to prevent on on a bus without so called segregation. On the other hand I do not see why they cannot allow the women to occupy the front of the bus and men the back of it.
16. Rosa Parks
Mark ,   Toronto   (12.18.11)
The religious should travel by horse and buggy.
17. same thing happened to me
Ilana ,   USA   (12.18.11)
I got on a bus to go back to my apt in Jerusalem, wearing a tank top. Little did I know that this bus passed through a religious neighborhood. As we passed through the neighborhood, no one would sit next to me. People were staring at me and pointing at me. I had no idea what was going on. I didn't speak hebrew. No one would tell me what was happening. I was getting scared. Finally some women sat next to me and started yelling at me. I had no idea what they were saying. I just kept saying I don't speak hebrew, in hebrew. So they starting pulling on my shirt and on the bag next to me, I guess trying to cover me up with my bag. I told them I had food in my bag and they were going to spill it but everyone was yelling at me. Finally, a girl who spoke English just showed up. She told me they were all mad at me. I told her I just wanted to get off the bus but they wouldn't let me move. She told them to back off and I just ran off the bus, in tears. It was one of the worst experiences I have ever had in Israel.
18. I think you are Jerks - all of you -
Arn. ,   Sweden.   (12.18.11)
Exept for the Busdriver and Policeman. Nobodys Freedom can stand Against anybody elses. In this article evertbody challenges evertbodys elses freedom. In Sweden we have this word - " Take the custom to where you come " !!!. Arn.Sweden.
19. The problem is not women but that men can't control......
Adulthood please ,   Israel   (12.18.11)
themselves. They have horrible wild thoughts. TIME THEY LEARN HOW TO CLEAN UP THEIR THOUGHTS and take responsibility for that. Stop blaming everybody else for your personal problem or lack of character.
20. tolerance
Iletzter ,   TA- Israel   (12.18.11)
I do understand your point. However in your lengthy article you claim that people should show consideration to others- I fail to understand why the writer did not feel she should show consideration to the majority of the haredim that travel on this bus route, the route that pas through the haredi neighborhoods, in other services mainly the haredim- why don't you show any consideration for their feelings and beliefs? Did it really give you such a good feeling with the policeman behind you- to force your presence on these men ? The policeman did ask you politely, if you would mind showing some consideration to the haredim and sit in the back- but you refused ! This means that you are guilty of what you accuse the haredim- lack of consideration for others- lack of derech eretz.
21. back of the bus
Israel ,   London   (12.18.11)
One can see parallels with Apartheid South Africa where the rights of the black were curtailed and also with the second class treatment of Muslim women. Read the Wikipedia defintion of 'Apartheid' on racial segragation and substitute with the word 'gender'.
22. Unbelievable
Sam ,   israel   (12.18.11)
I did not even read the article but its sickening how this lady deliberately invaded a group which adheres to strict laws because it saves her 5 minutes - excuse me the chareidim specifically asked egged for these buses - if you dont like it take the 448 bus which will drop you 20 minutes from your home - OK maybe the chareidim do things that people don't like but don't invade something that they have been doing for years - charedim don't come to secular beaches and tell people to cover up - wow lady stop making a baal agan and get a life!
23. Show some respect!
tiki ,   belgium   (12.18.11)
The request of the policeman to 'Tanya Rosenblit to move to the back, didn't. This phenomenon MUST be stopped right now. Next time board a bus with groups of women and start to approach these fanatics with the threat you'll '''touch them....the'll start running...., the're not alowed to touch a woman & don't forget to take a camera......, they don't want to be filmed. It's kind of a double trouble. These primitive fanatics, usually living of the Israeli taxpayer, have to be taught some values & respect.
24. #8 Please dont give them any ideas!
A ,   Belgium   (12.18.11)
These 15th century shtetl throwbacks might adopt them as "hashems" own word!
25. she knew full well what she was doing...
gedaliah   (12.18.11)
Her goal was to create a story and to incite the people on the bus. Apparently it was harder than she origionally thought, She was seen in the front huming, singing and trying to get attention to herself. The problems started when she reached out her elbow to intentianally touch a man who was walking by. Although I do not agree with segregated busses, this women in no hero. She is an instigator and should be treated as such. Let the problem be solved by mature adults, not this teenage like attitude.
26. I won't sit back ( unless no room in the front!!!!
Joseph ,   Montreal - Canada   (12.18.11)
As a observant Jew I totally agree with Ms. Tanya' s attitude. Let those who want to apply their archaic law buy or rent their own bus with the inscription THIS IS A HAREDI BUS. It will then be the decision of any woman passenger to accept this condition or not.
27. Let the heredim move to Norway.
Scott ,   USA   (12.18.11)
It suits their anti-Israel views, and the climate suits their clothing. Maybe they can take the Arabs of Umm al-Fahm with them.
28. Tanya I see you and your soul is most beautiful!
Sephardi Leftist ,   Israel   (12.18.11)
Thank you for showing all of us that the most powerful response was also the gentlest one! Kol HaKavod!
29. #25 gedaliah
Oscar ,   fort Worth, USA   (12.18.11)
This is a PUBLIC bus, not a Haredi bus. As such, a woman has the right to sit where she wants. by the way, I have seen plenty of Haredim in the US and other countries sitting behind scantly dressed women, without daring to complain. Israel is not a Halacha state, it is a democratic and Jewish state, and a person like this may be called an instigator in Afganistan and other similarly developed countries
30. Lack of freedom in Israel?
David ,   USA   (12.18.11)
In every country are those that feel they are better than the next person; fueled by riches, ownership, religion, and the list just get longer. Tanya just happen to find one of those that felt they were better than she, but to condem the state of Israel for her misfortune when in fact the laws of Israel favored her statement. Just what do you want from the state of Israel? They gave you your freedom in this matter. You stayed on the bus, in your set while the others were left behind. Why not go to iran, syria, gaze or just about any other place other than Israel, and you do the same thing there. We would be hearing from you in jail if you are lucky. Instead of trying to make a political statement when there isn't one to make, try asking yourself what you can do to help your country during these troublesome times instead of condeming.
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