Kol Barama radio station (archives)
Photo: Nir Kaptan
Radio offers 'kosher' traffic reports
Haredi station's reports focus on traffic jams in ultra-Orthodox communities, presented exclusively by men and followed by Traveler's Prayer
A new initiative launched by an ultra-Orthodox radio station offers listeners "strictly kosher" traffic reports, presented exclusively by men.
The service can be listened to on one's phone as well, by dialing 1-900-72-7575 for half a shekel (about 14 cents) per minute.
Vocal Dispute
Kobi Nahshoni
According to compromise reached with Second Authority for Television and Radio, Kol Barama station will broadcast special programs presented by women. But radio official states, 'We'll let women speak only under certain conditions and in times of emergency'
But the listeners of Kol Barama Radio are not really interested in the regular traffic jams on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Road or the Coastal Highway. Rather, they are more likely to tune in for reports on the traffic at the entrance to Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood or on Bnei Brak's Rabbi Akiva Street.
According to Kol Barama officials, the station's traffic reports will focus on the ultra-Orthodox communities of Elad, Bnei Brak and Beitar Illit, rather than on places like Herzliya, Haifa or Tel Aviv.
As part of the service, the traffic reports will end with Tefilat Haderech ("The Traveler's Prayer") – a Jewish prayer for a safe journey, both in its Ashkenazi and Sephardic versions.
"This way, the driver won't have to read the prayer off the page, preventing danger," explains Moti Ovadia, one of the station's workers.
Just don't forget to say "Amen" before you hit the road.
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