Haredi "Modesty Patrol" Catches Violators On Camera

Members of Committee for Preserving Sanctity and Education employ professional photographers to document yeshiva students attending 'immodest' cultural events. Images will be passed on to yeshiva heads.

Haredi modesty patrol catches violators on camera
Members of Committee for Preserving Sanctity and Education employ professional photographers to document yeshiva students attending 'immodest' cultural events. Images will be passed on to yeshiva heads
Ari Galahar • Ynet

The next hot item in the haredi fight against immodesty is debuting this summer – professional photographers hired by the Committee for Preserving Sanctity and Education to catch yeshiva students on film at "immodest" concerts.

Rabbi Mordechai Baloi, chairman of the committee, recently announced that whoever attends the mixed-gender rock concerts of haredi performers Yakov Sheweky and Avraham Fried may be putting at risk his and his children's chances of being accepted into various yeshiva frameworks.

According to Baloi, the committee has arrangements with a number of the show's organizers to hand over pictures taken during the concert because they do not want be in trouble with the rabbis.

1st time offenders given pass

"Once, we used to send photographers to the concerts. But now we have officials in the organization who send us pictures of those participating in the events," said Baloi. "Everyone who goes to these concerts knows that he was there. Everyone knew he was there, unless he disguises himself. We will bring this to the attention of the leaders of the educational institutions," explained Baloi.

The event managers themselves explained that the concerts are not directed at the haredi public, but are intended for the National Religious crowd. However, Baloi does not accept their claims, and says the fact that the artists are being billed as haredi attracts many haredim to the concerts, even if they are not officially part of the target audience.
 
Not only mixed-gender concerts are being targeted by the Committee for Preserving Sanctity and Education.

According to Baloi, the committee sent photographers out on motorbikes on the eve of the World Cup final to document yeshiva students watching the game.
 
"We dispatched three motorcycles with cameras to the streets to pass through restaurants, coffee shops, and bars in the city," elucidated Baloi. "The photographers are not haredim, but are secular professionals.
 
Baloi explained that the committee has no problem with the soccer game itself, but with things surrounding it, such as advertisements. He added that many of the yeshiva students left the venues when they saw the flashes go off.

The Committee for Preserving Sanctity and Education explained that they do not usually hand over photographs to the yeshiva heads the first time a student is caught, unless they are specifically asked by the yeshivas with which they are in contact.

Comments

[Mr. Apikoros]

Maybe I'll take a trip to Israel this fall so I can moon the camera.

It will not be a pretty sight.

[Azi]

"Yeshiva Students: They're Just Like Us!"

[Dr. Dave]

Everyone knew he was there, unless he disguises himself.

They should all wear Rabbi Baloi masks to the concert. the women too.

And it shouldn't be too long before someone comes up with the idea of installing cameras to watch Rabbi Baloi, his committee and their families.

What do you suppose they will find?

[Dr. Dave]

Who watches the watchmen?

[who knows]

Great idea about Baloi's masks. They could become as popular as hand bracelets and make someone rich.

The only problem is that I don't think we are allowed to cover our faces in public due to security concerns.

[diamdave]

This is scary. Big Brother in the name of pseudo-religion? And since when is Avraham Fried not considered frum enough? He's the poster boy for frumkeit, for goodness sake.

They eant to chumrisize their standards for themselves, that's fine. But it scares my American M.O. sensibilities to think the Jewish FBI is out there in surveillance modes. Will they do the same at the Mikvahs?

[the usual chaim.]

big brother anyone?

[A. Nuran]

They really need to take another leaf from their idols, the Wahabist Saudis who are tracking women and texting their owners when the uppity cunts try to leave. Just put trackers on all Charedim and text the appropriate rabbi when they go anywhere unauthorized. Maybe it could be incorporated into a shock collar.

[seymour]

very scary, are they going to follow everybody

put cameras in all yeshivas and rebbies offices
1- we will have evidence that can be provided to authorities when yeshiva personal lie when they fill out papers to receive government money
2. do the same in all houses so we can know who lied to receive welfare and section/8
3. maybe cameras all over will prevent child molestation.

If only the powers to be would put the same amount of effort to prevent molestation and to educate the frum public that fraud is unacceptable they can make a difference.

however it seems making sure boys do not go to concerts is of more importance and is a bigger risk to klal yisreoal

[seymour]

stupid idea with new technology they can implant gps and tracking devices in every child and (maybe even real time video in the future)

[Neo-Conservaguy]

Better they should be back at the yeshiva getting high with all the other messed up kids, it would seem.

[danny]

"Committee for Preserving Sanctity and Education"

This is like straight out of Orwell or something. I think that the bochurs should tell these purity committee snitches and their Roshei Yeshiva to stuff it.

[assist]

A couple of makeup artists could do the job.

[Althelion]

Incredibly Orwellian. Funny thing is, that reference would have no meaning to Rabbi Mordechai Baloi, his committee, and their followers since they have an almost complete ignorance of world-renowned literary works.

What reference from the tanach can we use to illustrate Baloi's fascism?

[A. Nuran]

Don't they mean "The Committee for the Preservation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice"?

Oh. Sorry. That's the Saudi religious police who whip "immodest" women and arrest unmarried couples and . Completely different.

[David]

I think this is an EXCELLENT idea!

If the photos result in the students being expelled from the Yeshivot then they have a chance to be liberated into the real world and they might be able to get a real education (both secular and religious) and even a job and a life.

It is a blessing in disguise.

[Menachem Mendel lll]

Soup Nazis.

[Hadasah]

Great go to the concert in a burqua.

[Bill]

Kinda explains why the rabbis were not quick to embrace to burqua.

They need to be able to keep track of their "womens."

[harold]

Makes sense. If the students claim to abide by a set of standards of conduct and they don't how better a way then the threat of being caught?

How many times have you seen signs that say premises are monitored as a deterrent against illegal activity? This is nothing more than a variation of that theme.

[Israel]

Harold as someone who grew up in the kind of society and sent to the schools that would do things like this, your comment is extremely hurtful. Do you have any idea of the pain and mental anguish that's visited upon a kid who wants to do normal things that aren't against the Torah but can't due to this insane culture of fear and punishment? This system made my life hell for years. I damn well nearly left Judaism because of it. Shame on you.