Jerusalem Public Library In Haredi Neighborhood Illegally Bars Women, Report Finds

A public library in Jerusalem has reportedly barred women from using its services. This illegal exclusion of women was documented in a report issued earlier today by Jerusalem’s City Comptroller Malka Dror and is taking place in part because the library building was divided in two. One half was turned into a haredi synagogue that does not permit entry to women, effectively making the entire building – even what is left of the library – a male only domain.

 

Jerusalem Public Library In Haredi Neighborhood Illegally Bars Women, Report Finds
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

A public library in Jerusalem has reportedly barred women from using its services. This illegal exclusion of women was documented in a report issued earlier today by Jerusalem’s City Comptroller Malka Dror, Israel HaYom reported.

The library is reportedly located in an area that only became haredi over the past few years. Now the library has been divided in two; one half is now used as a haredi synagogue and the other half is used as a library.

That haredi synagogue is open all day long and because the building has only one entrance and haredim demand strict separation of the sexes that transcends the mandates of normative halakha, Jewish law, women are now barred from entry.

“Operating a public library that offers its services only to men constitutes an infringement on the principle of gender equality and may have a detrimental effect on the municipality's image. A legal opinion obtained on the matter states that having a public library service only men constitutes discrimination and is illegal.…This audit has found that the nature of the [building's] activity indicated ahead of time that a library, whose services are offered to the general public, including women, and a synagogue, could not share the same building. The decision [to divide the building] has created a situation where a city service is, in fact, in violation of the law,” the comptroller’s report reportedly found.

"The City of Jerusalem does not and will not sanction any infringement on gender equality and will take action against any demonstration of discrimination.

"City officials have already instructed the institution in question to define hours when women can use its services, and are enforcing this directive,” the city said in a statement that also stressed that the city is “exploring the possibility of moving the library to a new location,” Israel HaYom reported.

Comments

[ah-pee-chorus]

" “exploring the possibility of moving the library to a new location,”

ummm...you think?

why do women even need libraries to begin with? they can learn how to cook, pop out babies and raise them from the older women. besides, their rebbe knows more than whats contained in any library anyway.

[Alter Kocker]

Was/is the building legally the property of the Jerusalem City government or has it been sold the the Haredi community? If it was sold and the library portion leased back, then there would be some legal issues. However, if the building belongs to Jerusalem, and the Haredim are leasing half of it, they may not be able to dictate access to the property, even if they are operating a synagogue, the landlord (City) and its bylaws would require full access.

[S M L]

Bylaws? Are you kidding? This is Israel we're speaking of where laws mean almost nothing and Haredim run wild and free.

[Hal]

and while we are at it, do women really need to go to the grocery store? Can't they grow and can their own food at home? There are clerks at those stores. We can't have this mixing. Hallways of the apartment buildings could be a problem too.

[David]

What's the problem? The women don't need no book learnin'.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

well, if they let the ladies borrow books, they may realize they live in hell.
actually, I understand that during much of the 19th century in Poland & Russia & much of eastern Europe, men were educated as stupidly as now & the women were allowed to take up secular studies. consequently, they took up poetry, literature, were literate in polish & got acquainted with haskala while the men remained boors. They have learned their lessons since.

[rebitzman - $101 to read my posts]

" “exploring the possibility of moving the library to a new location,”

The article seems to imply the library was there first. Move the freakin' shul.

[Jeff]

I find it odd that the librarians allowed this, instead of filing a report as soon as it happened.

[Diplogeek]

"The City of Jerusalem does not and will not sanction any infringement on gender equality and will take action against any demonstration of discrimination."

Hah. This part gave me a good laugh. Yeah, we'd never allow any kind of infringement on gender equality... except when it comes to our buses, our libraries, our streets, our major religious landmarks.... But other than *that*, no, we'd *never* tolerate such a thing!