Reform Jews Board 'Haredi' Buses To Protest Illegal Separation Of The Sexes

15 activists of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and the Israel Religious Action Center last week got on "kosher" buses in haredi neighborhoods, dressed in white, and handed out leaflets explaining the High Court ruling on the matter. The leaflets were worded like pashkevils – posters hung on public walls in haredi locations – and included phrases and expressions like "a crime raging in our camp" and "a serious warning."

 

Reform Jews: No to 'kosher' bus lines
Some 15 activists of Movement for Progressive Judaism hand out leaflets in Jerusalem's haredi neighborhoods against sex segregation on buses
Kobi Nahshoni • Ynet

Following a High Court ruling that sex segregation must not be imposed on public transportation, the battle against "strictly kosher" bus lines is now using the weapon most identified with the ultra-Orthodox public – pashkevils.

Some 15 activists of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and the Israel Religious Action Center last week got on "kosher" buses in haredi neighborhoods, dressed in white, and handed out leaflets explaining the High Court ruling on the matter.
 
The leaflets were worded like pashkevils – posters hung on public walls in haredi locations – and included phrases and expressions like "a crime raging in our camp" and "a serious warning".
 
Like Tehran

Moti Bavchuk, the Movement for Progressive Judaism's coordinator, said the passersby studied the leaflets, as they mistook them for haredi pashkevils, but immediately renounced the issue.

In some cases, he said, an argument broke out between the activists and the bus passengers, although it was mostly dignified and to the point.

"We had two goals: The first, to clarify that the segregation is not voluntary. The harassment and violence against women are forbidden as far as the High Court is concerned, and could lead to criminal sanctions. And the second, to warn against a segregated state which is developing here, kind of like Tehran," said Bavchuk.
 
A High Court ruling delivered about three months ago – which permits the operation of "kosher lines", in which women are separated from men, under increased supervision and with consent – has led to a significant rise in the number of segregation bus lines.     
         
After the ruling, the haredi side has also realized that the battle over the "kosher" bus lines has moved to the PR level. Ads published in the sector's newspapers and neighborhoods in recent months include statement made by senior rabbis about the importance of separating between men and women on public transportation.

Despite the High Court's demand that haredi newspapers publish ads warning of discrimination against women on the "kosher" bus lines, the sector's three most important papers have refused to do so.

Comments

[A. Nuran]

Good for them. The proper response to bullies and terrorists is not appeasement. It is confrontation.

Make no mistake. The Charedim who made this necessary are terrorists. They use "unlawful force or the threat of force to change the policies or behavior of a portion of the population". By-the-book terrorism

[A E ANDERSON]

But who will protect haredi women from lechers and pervs like me who leer at their vericose veins, make animal noises and greedily inhale their unbathed, pre-mikva scents?!?

[Maskil]

It is noteworthy that unlike Haredi pashkevilim, this one writes "mahaneinu" in the plural - "our camps" - indicating that there is not one single "camp of Israel."

[David]

Well done. Jews must start standing up to the Charedim and say "Enough is Enough!". Let them know that their continued tolerance is on very thin ground.

[seymour]

I think the easiest solution would be for bikini clad woman and bathing suite men just board the bus as sit where they please.

Or in secular areas just force all the herideim to the back of the bus. If there are not enough seats let them stand.

Or simple no army no bus

[jay]

Every group has a right to be activist to express their commitment to their beliefs. It's refreshing to see an activist progressive group supporting the law and fighting segregation.

[Michoel]

Oy, yeridos hadoros.....

there was a time when maskilim knew dikduk.

In any case, I do like the way this protest was done.

[David Jones]

"ultra-Orthodox public – pashkevils?" I would stay away from using the term "ultra-Orthodox;" it's a misnomer and it dilutes the strength of whatever point we are trying to get across.