Radical Haredim protest immodesty in Beit Shemesh
The ultra-Orthodox protesters say that certain less religious families are corrupting their youth, neighborhood and want them out; girls filmed being chased by zealots Sunday say they fear the modesty squads, deny causing provocations and feel police, city, are not doing enough.
Some 150 ultra-Orthodox residents of Beit Shemesh protested early Wednesday near the homes of two families they are accusing of leading local youth astray.
“This is a religious neighborhood and there are two ‘irreligious’ households corrupting the youth, and they hit on the women. This degeneracy must not happen in our neighborhood,” said one of the protesters.
They stood across from the homes they were targeting on Nehar HaYarden Street praying, shouting and holding signs calling on the families to leave the neighborhood. From time to time the police tried to disperse them but the protesters only went to their synagogue before returning with increased ranks.
A few dozen began marching in the street in the direction of the police forces, holding signs opposing the media and the mayor.
At that point, the police were ordered to disperse the gathering. The commander announced that they had one minute to leave or be arrested.
However, when the police tried to arrest them, the protesters scattered into the alleyways, nearby buildings and their synagogue, which is surrounded by a large iron fence to keep out outsiders.
The families being targeted by the protest are newly religious and belong to the Chabad community. Many long-time residents feel that they create an inappropriate atmosphere in the neighborhood. They also claim that over the last year, there has been an increase of home invasions.
“They have large dogs that wander the neighborhood and scare our children. They are purposely corrupting this neighborhood,” one protester exclaimed.
Tensions increased lately after the circulation of a video showing religious zealots chasing after young women in Ramat Beit Shemesh sparked angry discussions online where some commenters complained of an increase in religious extremism, while others strongly disagreed.
As protesters began arriving around midnight, gathering across from the two homes, police, some undercover, poured into the area. Across the street, friends and supporters of the families being targeted gathered on the sidewalk.
Members of the families stood on their steps as if ready for a confrontation. “The religious people coming here to protest are extremists. But there are only about 40 of them, a tiny percentage of the population that decide to take the law into their own hands,” said one. “They want us to leave, and we say no! We have a right to live here.”
But another expressed concern for the safety of his children: “I am not worried about myself but for them, these (protesters) are deranged and I am here to protect my home.”
We are scared to walk the streets
Three days after the highly publicized incident in which three young women were filmed being chased by a mob of Haredim in Ramat Beit Shemesh B, they three told Ynet what life is like among the zealots.
Hadassa, Nava and A. were raised in religious families, but have become targets of ultra-Orthodox extremists who want them out of their neighborhood.
“Not all Haredim are like that, they are just a small minority who instill terror upon the neighborhood,” one said.
They feel that it has become dangerous for women to walk the streets and that the police are not doing enough. As far as the extremists are concerned, even not wearing socks is considered immodest behavior. “The neighborhood has become more extreme over time,” another girl lamented.
They said that as soon as a woman is seen dressed not in accordance with their stringent standards, a commotion begins and they are chased or possibly even targeted with pepper spray.
They said that they try to avoid groups of Haredi extremists and denied the charge that they deliberately cause provocations.
Although they are traumatized by what happened, they insist that not all Haredim are like that.
“I am from a religious family, as are the other girls, and our families are loving and accepting,” said A. “Unlike them, a group with no decency … They are but a small group from Beit Shemesh B.”
About a month ago, modesty squads began harassing people, especially members of the Breslov community, some of whose children have abandoned Orthodoxy and are seen as unwanted elements by the extremists. The modesty squads demand that their families leave the neighborhood.
One Nehar HaYarden resident said that the police and activists from the Beit Shemesh municipality's City Without Violence program are called to the scene almost every night. However, they did not do anything to put an end to the matter, according to the resident.
"My stairway is a mobile emergency room. Casualties go in and out in ambulances. We ask the police to come and show their presence beforehand, but they only come after being called (when a violent incident happens-ed)," she elucidated.
Liberal activists and local residents are demanding that the municipality install cameras that can help mitigate the problem. They blame the city and police for not doing enough.
“These disturbances take place on a weekly basis,” said Miri Shalem, director of the Institute for Zionist Strategies and a resident of the city. “Every time there is an incident, there is a media uproar, but everyone quickly returns to their routine. Until someone is seriously hurt, they won’t wake up.”
The police for their part claim that while they have zero tolerance for criminal activity, the victims often do not file a complaint.
"We emphasize that whenever a police report is filed or a complaint is received, or alternatively, there is a suspicion that an act of a person may lead to a breach of public order or harm to another, the Israel Police acts in accordance with the authority granted to it by law for the prevention of offenses ... to maintain public order and ensure public safety and security.”
