"Modesty Patrols" Sow Fear In Israel

Ultra-Orthodox Jews, On Campaign For Purity, Allegedly Stone Women For Wearing Red Blouses

(AP)  In Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, where the rule of law sometimes takes a back seat to the rule of God, zealots are on a campaign to stamp out behavior they consider unchaste. They hurl stones at women for such "sins" as wearing a red blouse, and attack stores selling devices that can access the Internet.

In recent weeks, self-styled "modesty patrols" have been accused of breaking into the apartment of a Jerusalem woman and beating her for allegedly consorting with men. They have torched a store that sells MP4 players, fearing devout Jews would use them to download pornography.

"These breaches of purity and modesty endanger our community," said 38-year-old Elchanan Blau, defending the bearded, black-robed zealots. "If it takes fire to get them to stop, then so be it."

Many ultra-Orthodox Jews are dismayed by the violence, but the enforcers often enjoy quiet approval from rabbis eager to protect their own reputations as guardians of the faith, community members say. And while some welcome anything that keeps secular culture out of their cloistered world, others feel terrorized, knowing that the mere perception of impropriety could ruin their lives.

"There are eyes and ears all over the place, very similar to what you hear about in countries like Iran," says Israeli-American novelist Naomi Ragen, an observant Jew who has chronicled the troubles that confront some women living in the ultra-Orthodox world.

The violence has already deepened the antagonism between the 600,000 haredim, or God-fearing, and the secular majority, which resents having religious rules dictated to them.

Religious vigilantes operate in a society that has granted their community influence well beyond its numbers - partly out of a commitment to revive the great centers of Jewish scholarship destroyed in the Holocaust, but also because the Orthodox are perennial king-makers in Israeli coalition politics.

Thus public transport is grounded for the Jewish Sabbath each Saturday, and the rabbis control all Jewish marriage and divorce in Israel.

In recent years, however, the haredim have eased up on their long campaign to impose their rules on secular areas, and nowadays many restaurants and suburban shopping centers are open on the Sabbath.

These days, most vigilante attacks take place in the zealots' own neighborhoods.

Israel police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the modesty police are not an organized phenomenon, just rogue enforcers carrying out isolated attacks. But Israel's Justice Ministry used the term "modesty patrols" in an indictment against a man accused of assaulting the Jerusalem woman.

The unidentified, 31-year-old woman had left the ultra-Orthodox fold after getting divorced, according to the charges filed by the Jerusalem district attorney's office. The charges said her assailant tried to get her to leave her apartment in a haredi neighborhood in Jerusalem by gagging, beating and threatening to kill her. He was paid US$2,000 for the attack, it said.

A 17-year-old who moved to Israel from New York five years ago said she was hospitalized after being attacked with pepper spray by a crowd of men outraged that she was walking down a Jerusalem street with boys.

"They can burn in hell," said the girl, who would identify herself only as Rivka.

She lives in Beit Shemesh, a town outside Jerusalem where the vigilantism has been particularly violent. Zealots there have thrown rocks and spat at women, and set fire to trash bins to protest impiety. Walls of the neighborhood are plastered with signs exhorting women to dress modestly - spelled out as closed-necked, long-sleeved blouses and long skirts.

The state, catering to religious sensitivities, subsidizes gender-segregated bus routes that service religious neighborhoods. Ragen and several other women challenged the practice in Israel's Supreme Court after an Orthodox Canadian woman in her 50s told police she was kicked, slapped, pushed to the floor and spat upon by men for refusing to move to the back of the bus.

Another Beit Shemesh girl, who asked to be identified only as Esther, said zealots threw rocks, cursed and spat at a friend for wearing a red blouse - taboo because the color attracts attention.

Yitzhak Polack, a 50-year-old Jerusalem teacher, is one of those who deplore such behavior.

"They are stupid troublemakers who are bringing shame and disgrace on this holy community," he said.

But the rabbis are afraid to condemn them, says Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, another community member.

"They can't come out against zealots who champion modesty. Here and there they write against violence, but the militants ultimately set the tone," he said.

Stores are targeted too.

In August, a Jerusalem man was placed under house arrest on suspicion he set fire to a store in a haredi district of the city that sold MP4 players.

"It started about six months ago. They would come into the store, about 15 of them at a time, screaming, 'This store burns souls!' and they would throw merchandise on the floor and threaten customers," said 31-year-old Aaron Gold, a haredi worker at the Space electronics store.

One Friday night, just before the Sabbath was about to begin, "they smashed a window, doused the place with gasoline and lit a match," Gold said.

Now, a big sign behind the counter says, "All products sold in this store are under rabbinical supervision. By order of the rabbis, no MP4s are sold here."

Clothing stores that sell clothes regarded as provocative have been vandalized, and bleach thrown at merchandise.

Suspicion is all that's needed to spark an attack.

Girls have been expelled from school after being seen talking to boys, a punishment that ruins their marriage prospects.

"It could be very innocent; she could be talking to her brother," Ragen said. But once thrown out of school, "no one - NO ONE - will take you in," she added.

In one case, the violence reached the highest levels of haredi society.

Three years ago, a son of Israel's Sephardi chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, was accused of kidnapping a 17-year-old boy, beating him at knifepoint and terrorizing him with snarling dogs because he had sought the attentions of the accused's unchaperoned sister.

The son was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail.

His sister married a different suitor the following year.

[cdfoxtrot4]

These whackos are our great ally? This is what we spend billions on every year?

If this were "Eye-Ran" or some other part of the Middle East, I can only imagine the response to this story from America''s extreme right.

[bailmeout1]

Isreal better wake up and put a stop to this nonsense. They have a lot of supporters here in America, including some that risk and often lose their lives for them. If Isreal continues to act like our enemies act, we will not see any differance between them as clearly as we see it now. Dont let it come to be that we "understand" the others whackos (Iran) point of view. Recco to sane-thinking Isreal citizens - PUT A STOP TO THIS NOW!!!!!

[incog-nito]

No big deal. The Taliban and Saudis already do this kind of stuff anyway.

[rwsmith29456]

Sounds like Sharia law, Jewish style.

[rickstas]

Sounds like the Jewish Taliban.

[rational_1]

"A 17-year-old who moved to Israel from New York five years ago said she was hospitalized after being attacked with pepper spray by a crowd of men outraged that she was walking down a Jerusalem street with boys."

I''ve always wondered about the sanity of those who voluntarily move to Israel from the U.S., and especially those who move their children to what is basically a war zone. Go figure religios. Saw some woman on the idiot box a few years back who had moved to Israel from the States and one of her kids ended up getting killed in a Palestinian suicide bombing. How fricken bright was that decision in hindsight?

Fanatics, whether they be Islamic, Jewish or Baptist, have a negative influence on our societies totally disproportionate to their numbers. Frankly if I lived there I''d try to convince a few friends to join me in a ''conversation'' with those thugs - the kind of ''conversation'' that involves baseball bats and knee surgery.

Religious people are losing their minds. Now, more than ever, these are the kinds of people we need to keep away from the US Constitution.

[bailmeout1]

Religious people are losing their minds. Now, more than ever, these are the kinds of people we need to keep away from the US Constitution.
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Posted by celticmod at 11:58 PM : Oct 04, 2008

So true. I am a Republican and just can not stand even being thought of in the same thought as our religious right. But we need them in our party for the votes needed to balance out against the wacko far-left.

Just as we look (from the outside) and can easily see this problem in Isreal, I wish we could see as easily the problems here caused by the far right and far left.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by bailmeout1 at 12:19 AM

There is no far left in the US. There is the far right: McCain and Palin and there is right of center: Obama and Biden.

Anyone outside of the US can explain to you people what far left looks like, cause you haven''t the slightest idea.

[rudy654-2009]

Most Jews if they can immigrate from Russia, immigrate to Germany or the US. Many are still going to South America, but one place they don''t want to go is Israel because of these nuts telling everyone what''s what.

[rudy654-2009]

Reminds one of 70 CE when religious zealots were running all over Israel attacking and killing people they didn''t think were Jewish enough. Then they went and provoked a war with Rome, only to come running back to Jerusalem. Jerusalem shut their gates, the Romans came and destroyed the whole city.

[legacyabq]

Wow. How ironic, that certain Israelis are emulating NAZIS of all things.. Why don''t they get a clue?
This is what the poison of religion does to the world! Thanks a lot all you idiot zealots, moslem, jew, and christian, for RUINING a nice life on this planet. Oh, what we could have instead of this kind of trashy pseudo-life, forged by religion..
Screw god, there is no god, Why dont you people try being NICE to one another, on its OWN merit, and not cuz some invisible sky-god TOLD you to, so you get a REWARD in an "afterlife". YEAH, *that''s* moral: OOOOOOOOKAY people. Nice thinking there.

[alpine42]

No big deal. The Taliban and Saudis already do this kind of stuff anyway. Posted by incog-nito at 11:30 PM : Oct 04, 2008....

So that means its OK?

[alpine42]

No matter what line of faith you follow. If you go to far....you actually become the evil you preach against.

[incog-nito]

So that means its OK?

Posted by alpine42 at 03:10 AM : Oct 05, 2008

No, it''s not. It means that the people we abhor are in some ways not all that different from the people we support.

[larryfarma1]

Orthodox Jews are creationists. So why haven''t orthodox Jews given hell to the fanatically pro-Darwinist Anti-Defamation League?

[tmn]

No matter what line of faith you follow. If you go to far....you actually become the evil you preach against.

Posted by alpine42
-------------------
Exactly - right on the mark!

[sslow-2009]

These people are part of the "Neturei Karta", a very small minority of religious fanatics who are against Zionism and its state. They openly collaborate with Iran and Ahmadinejad. These patrols mainly take place in very religious areas and their targets are usually religious dropouts.

[skysoldier75]

These haredim sound just like terrorists to me.

They also sound just like Christian fundamentalists.

Any religious zealot is a potential terrorist.

Fanatical religious intolerance seems to be the perfect growth-medium for breeding grass-root terrorism anywhere.

[airboatboy1]

What''s their reward when they die? 72 dollars?

[tucson23]

No, religion is not a force of opression and the enemy of freedom. It''s just that everyone needs to live by it, or face the consequences. That''s different.

[sslow-2009]

These people are part of the "Neturei Karta", a very small minority of religious fanatics who are against Zionism and its state. They openly collaborate with Iran and Ahmadinejad. These patrols mainly take place in very religious areas and their targets are usually religious dropouts.

Posted by sslow at 05:06 AM : Oct 05, 2008

That is totally untrue.

Ultra-orthodox Jews form a very influential part of Israeli politics. Benjamin Netanyahu is counting on their vote if what''''s her name fails to form a gov''''t and nat''''l elections are called.

Many of the "settlers" (murderous land thieves) are ultra-Orthodox Jews.

I have lived in Jerusalem for four years. I know the difference between ultra religious anti-zionists (the ones doing the patrols who are dressed in haredi/hasidic garb) and religious zionists (these are the settlers-type who wear westernised clothes), who are too busy fighting for their land. They are very easily distinguished.

[j_flood]

Is there any form of religion where the fundamentalists don''t just scare the hell out of ya!

And all in the name of God...........it''s beyond me....

[j_flood]

Is there any form of religion where the fundamentalists don''t just scare the hell out of ya!

And all in the name of God...........it''s beyond me....

[slim1h2o]

I can''t believe that we Americans give money to this terrorist organization.

[bailmeout1]

Well where I come from, if I see someone throwing a rock at a woman I walk up and beat the bloody chit out of them. But that is just me, an American, presuppossing that someone wants aid. It''s a problem we have, we do it all the time, but we are working on it and soon everyone in other countries can relax and not have to worry about our interference.

Modesty patrols?

Oh, please - call it what it is - a group of religious nuts forcing their views on others.

These same kind of religious nuts used terrorism against the British prior to the forming of Israel, and they have continued to exist.

It just goes to prove that extremists can be found in all religions - including Judaism.

[slim1h2o]

Too bad Americans are so ignorant they think Israelis are Jews. The majority of Israelis are not Jews, they a bunch of money grubbing, murderous land thieves who are screwing_ US taxpayers on a daily basis.


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Posted by tuckerndfw at 06:16 AM : Oct 05, 2008


Doesn''t sound much different from our own government.

[pirmin3]

Every religion has its extremist wingnuts. If they want to practice what they believe among themselves, fine. But DON''T tell me what to do!! If I want to wear a red blouse I *** well will and you''ll get a rock upside yo bearded head it try to stop me, sucka.

[bailmeout1]

See what I mean Isreal? All of a sudden you are 50-50 equal standing with all the wacko nuts all around you. If you want any more of my tax dollars sent your way, you better put an end to this BS!

[johnnyblair-2009]

Talibanic Jews?

[johnnyblair-2009]

Talibanic Jews? God, if you exist, protect us from all religions.

[slim1h2o]

There is no oversight of money sent to Israel.

Israel is little more than an organized criminal enterprise.


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Posted by tuckerndfw at 06:38 AM

Much like this giant bailout, no oversight.

They''ll be coming back soon for more....Stay tuned!

[spiritwalk]

"Ultra-Orthodox Jews, On Campaign For Purity, Allegedly Stone Women For Wearing Red Blouses"

Muslims do that too.....
Posted by onemoretim

------------------------------------------------------
Muslims stone women for being immodest, so Jews can do it too?

Germans take Jews from their homes and put them in camps so Jews can do it to Palestinians?

What''s the moral here?

[slim1h2o]

I am truly amazed that so many Americans are so eager to throw their (our) money away supporting a perpetual welfare leech. . .


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Posted by tuckerndfw at 06:53 AM : Oct 05, 2008

And all the while, average American citizens go hungry at night, or denied food stamps cause they make $10.00 over the required amount.


It''s time we put Americans first.

[slim1h2o]

An idea that has come time to put to rest. If Zionist "Jews" (most of whom are fake Jews) want their own state (or "homeland"), they need to pay for it with their own money.


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Posted by tuckerndfw at 07:04 AM : Oct 05, 2008


Agreed!

[williewomper]

It sounds like they are immulating the very ideas that were used on them by the Nazis. Fanatical Religion has no place in modern society.

[bailmeout1]

As a Palestinian I''''m not surprised about this news one bit and I hope no Americans are either. I hope that people understand that Jews have extremists too, and not only these freaks stoning women for wearing the wrong dress but also in the army where they get a chance to live out their fantasies about fighting Goliah and recreating ancient Israel and all that nonsense.
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Posted by goodsamarata at 07:17 AM : Oct 05, 2008

Well said! And it is just doubly assinine here in America where we are "supposed" to have seperation of church and state and religious freedom for all. And that goes by extension to where ever my tax money is being sent.

I know how easy it is to get pulled into all of this. After 9-11, The level of hatred I have for all things Muslum could not even exist in Hell. I truly do want them erased from this Earth. I know that is wrong and I know that not every Muslum is like those monsters, but that is the reaction caused in me - BY THEM.

But that is why sane thinking Muslums NEED to police themselves (same things with the Jews). You people need to step up!

[bailmeout1]

I know how easy it is to get pulled into all of this. After 9-11, The level of hatred I have for all things Muslum could not even exist in Hell. I truly do want them erased from this Earth. I know that is wrong and I know that not every Muslum is like those monsters, but that is the reaction caused in me - BY THEM.

And just so Isreal gets the message - any actions by them that are even in the slightest way comparable to those Muslums (stoning women) provokes those same feelings towards them.

[silverstar06]

People are surprised??!
This is how they came to power in the first place. This is how they have maintained their power for over 3000 years. And most of all, this is not something ''new'' and a response to threats, hoping to preserve their ancient tradition. Maybe this just is their tradition!!? Ever figured THAT??

600 000 angry religious men who basically control the world. But be careful what you say about em, cuz they might just be in your neighborhood too!

And if that bothers someone, the best way out of it would to not be one...

[bailmeout1]

The worst thing to ever hit this planet is the Bible, and the Koran also (although I am not familiar with that) - to think that God gave you that piece of chit property as a "Holy Land" just defies comprehension. And for as long as I have been alive, there have been Mid-East "Peace Talks". This is total Bullspit! Those fireman racing into those skyscrapers did not ask what religion you were. and they also didn''t care if you were Republican or Democrat. As usual, politics and religion.......

[bailmeout1]

The US needs to get some balls and start setting limits on what can be done and can''''t be done with the money according to international law, and American law which are just as humane, and not let Israel have its own interpretation of these laws even if no one in the world agrees with them.
------------------------------------------------------Posted by goodsamarata at 08:00 AM : Oct 05, 2008

That is very true and trust me, American citizens do not condone this BS. We need more articles like this one - if only our left-wing stupid as all chit media would get on board. Time to start bombarding congress with emails again and letters to Senators again....

[bailmeout1]

Never been to Isreal but didn''''t they prevent the ultra-othodox guys and radical muslums from carring guns around? But everyone else still has one? I don''''t see the problem in blastng to protect your rights (any and all of them) even in isreal. Ultra=Radical=Extremist Religous types. Have your beliefs but Protect your rights to the Extreme. Having your beliefs or having none is just one of those rights.
------------------------------------------------------Posted by Impeach__W at 08:11 AM : Oct 05, 2008

That would be so friggin cool! Some nut walks up to girl in a red blouse and she pulls out an uzi! hahaha All of a sudden the headlines "Red Blouses Are Ok - God Told Me"

[notfooled]

Religious whackos abound all around the world. From Israel to Iraq to Iran to the good ole USA.

These people are dangerous.

Funny how religion has a way of bringing out the violent tendencies in so many folks.

[bailmeout1]

Satan; "I will go to Earth and tell everyone that I am God. I will give them a book and tell them it is the Word, and I will then allow that Word to be translated and retranslated at will. I will even let them know that it has been changed many times. I will make their lives miserable, and tell them they NEED to suffer for God. I will make their land be a desert with no water and tell them it is a Holy Land and they should die for it. I will tell them to cover up all the beautiful women so no one can see them. I will tell all the men to totally abuse women and I will tell the women that is Gods way. I will make all the peoples of the Earth hate them and every so often somebody comes along that wipes out a few million of them. I will tell them that virgins await them in heaven (even though there are plenty of virgins all around them).
God; "You''re not going to be able to do that, I gave them intellegence"

[bailmeout1]

Sounds like Caribou Barbie''''s idea of paradise -- everyone''''s in everybody else''''s business!
------------------------------------------------------Posted by imprisonrove at 08:45 AM : Oct 05, 2008

All she has ever done is state her beliefs. You are only trying to use others peoples plight for your political nonsense. Here is the key to help you stay on topic; She is a woman. You are free to agree or disagree with her but that has nothing to do with anything. Because she doesnt believe in abortion makes her comparable to what is going on in Isreal? Somehow, I think that if she is elected she will look long and hard at tax money sent to Isreal, if they are doing nothing to stop this abuse.

[bailmeout1]

Plus somehow I think that Hillery will just gushingly double and redouble money sent over there. after all, she has to worry about the Jewish vote. Actually it makes more sense for American Jews to demand stopping aid to Isreal, until this chit stops!

[tngreen]

From my perspective, organized religion often seems little more than an attempt to justify and institutionalize control of women. Why would any women voluntarily participate in organized religion? I mean, look at Sarah Palin, who has to look like Barbie doll and act like a cave man to be considered the best that religion has to offer. This is not natural, sisters! Why would a woman force herself into an unnatural role and live out her brief life that way to avoid being beaten and pepper sprayed, when we could just work together and in solidarity resist this BS?

[bailmeout1]

There is nothing good that the Bible ever told me to do, that the conscience given to me by God didn''t already tell me to do. Not murder, not steal, Love Thy neighbor, be kind to children, run into burning buildings to save strangers, conduct myself responsibly, those are all automatics.

[bailmeout1]

From my perspective, organized religion often seems little more than an attempt to justify and institutionalize control of women. Why would any women voluntarily participate in organized religion? I mean, look at Sarah Palin, who has to look like Barbie doll and act like a cave man to be considered the best that religion has to offer. This is not natural, sisters! Why would a woman force herself into an unnatural role and live out her brief life that way to avoid being beaten and pepper sprayed, when we could just work together and in solidarity resist this BS?
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Posted by tngreen at 09:18 AM : Oct 05, 2008

Yeah, but Democratic women do not allow beliefs other than their own. Which results in halving their effectiveness. Plenty of women in the Palin crowds. Democratic women are not for womens rights - certainly not the right to choose.