Large numbers of police and firefighters rushed to the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood of Jerusalem last night after an apartment containing what local haredi rabbis and haredi activists call a “house of prostitution” – but really appears to be nothing more than the home of an ex-haredi woman and her children – was set on fire.
Originally published at 10:13 pm CST 11-19-2012
Haredim Burn Jerusalem “House Of Prostitution”
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Large numbers of of police and firefighters rushed to the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood of Jerusalem last night after an apartment containing what local haredi rabbis and haredi activists call a “house of prostitution” was set on fire, the haredi news website Kikar Shabbat reported.
Fire crews were able to control the fire and although the building was seriously damaged, no injuries were reported.
The apartment is occupied by an ex-haredi woman with many children, including young children who were sleeping at the time of the arson. Haredi youth from the neighborhood who are questioning the haredi lifestyle also reportedly congregate there.
Haredim have previously staged protests in front of the building. At one of those protests last week, haredim apparently began throwing stones at the apartment. Residents of that and nearby buildings reportedly hurled the stones and other objects back at the haredi mob.
Police arrived and broke up the protest, but no arrests were made.
Tonight a neighbor told Kikar Shabbat that the activists had gone too far.
“With all due respect, to protest against the apartment, even if it is the same thing that the rabbis say it is, there is a limit. Burning this apartment and its inhabitants is attempted murder. There were small children in this apartment. Many people could have been injured and killed. Whoever did it is irresponsible, and probably did it without [the approval of] their rabbis."
The woman has repeatedly denied she is a prostitute or a madam, and she reportedly tried to meet with local haredi rabbis last week to discuss their campaign against her.
The rabbis refused her request for a meeting.
Related Posts:
A House Of Prostitution Reportedly Thrives In A Haredi Neighborhood.
Haredim Reportedly Stoned By Neighbors At Jerusalem “Brothel” Protest.