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Jerusalem - Secular Protested Mayors Caving to Charedi Pressure |
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Demonstrators in Jerusalems Safra Square on Saturday urge Mayor Nir Barkat to reopen municipal parking garage on future Saturdays. Photo: K. Rose
Many of the demonstrators accused Barkat of folding in the face of rioters, with MK Nitzan Horovitz (Meretz), saying "Nir Barkat folded, but we will not fold".
Standing before the demonstrators, some of whom were carrying banners reading "Jerusalem = Teheran", Horovitz said "Nir Barkat won thanks to the city's secular residents. If he folds over a parking lot, we can only imagine what else he'll fold over."
Last Saturday, stone-throwing Haredim protestors lightly wounded six police officers during a demonstration against Jerusalem's decision to open the Safra parking lot on Shabbat to accommodate secular visitors to the city. The decision over whether to reopen the parking lot has been postponed for two weeks.
After Barkat's decision was announced, Haredi leaders called off demonstrations planned for this Saturday.
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Pepe Allalo told the crowd Saturday that if the lot is not reopened in two weeks "we will reopen it".
Allalo also said Jerusalem's Haredi residents "are trying to turn Jerusalem into Bnei Barak, but we won't let this happen," referring to the ultra-Orthodox town outside of Tel Aviv.
One alternative solution that has been raised is to open a parking lot owned by businessman Alfred Akirov, who required assurances that his businesses would not be harmed by ultra-Orthodox protesters if he should agree to operate the lot.
The Haredi community, however, insists that it opposes the opening of any parking lot during Shabbat.
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Read Comments (21) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:13 PM Bunim1 Says:
Better than folding against G-D
2
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:07 PM Dag Says:
How many protestors were violent this week?
3
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:16 PM Anonymous Says:
Barkat should call in the security forces if necessary to enforce the law and prevent any further rioting by the hareidim opposed to the parking lot. The future of the medinah as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake. The people of Yerushalayim voted for a secular mayor who would preserve the rights of the non-frumme to live their lives as they wish. Just as we should protect the rights of the hareidim to be shomer shabbos, the rights of those who wish to drive on shabbos have equal merit.
4
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:27 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Barkat should call in the security forces if necessary to enforce the law and prevent any further rioting by the hareidim opposed to the parking lot. The future of the medinah as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake. The people of Yerushalayim voted for a secular mayor who would preserve the rights of the non-frumme to live their lives as they wish. Just as we should protect the rights of the hareidim to be shomer shabbos, the rights of those who wish to drive on shabbos have equal merit. ”
You are naive. The hareidim have the courage of their convcitions while the secular will sit back and allow their rights to be eroded bit by bit until it is too late and the new fait acompli has been established by these zealots. Hopefully they will wake up before it is too late and Yerushalim becomes another Kabul.
5
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:39 PM Anonymous Says:
“ How many protestors were violent this week? ”
You probably meant to ask "How many protesters where THERE this week.
Well, take the Ha'aretz number, subtract %75, then subtract an additional 20 for curious tourists who probably for the life of them couldn't figure out how a group of maximum 35 (judging by the images on Israeli news sites) rowdy yutzes got themselves to be covered by some 20 news reporters.
6
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:30 PM Anonymous Says:
while shabbos is important and holy. last weeks riot was a chilul hashem and unaccapable. charadie yidden need to conduct themselves to a higher standard.
7
Jun 13, 2009 at 10:20 PM Anonymous Says:
“ while shabbos is important and holy. last weeks riot was a chilul hashem and unaccapable. charadie yidden need to conduct themselves to a higher standard. ”
These hareidim could care less about shabbos kodesh. They are trying to make a political statment and regain control over the municipal government so they can increase the money and power going to their yeshivos, kolels and social welfare agencies.
8
Jun 13, 2009 at 09:48 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Barkat should call in the security forces if necessary to enforce the law and prevent any further rioting by the hareidim opposed to the parking lot. The future of the medinah as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake. The people of Yerushalayim voted for a secular mayor who would preserve the rights of the non-frumme to live their lives as they wish. Just as we should protect the rights of the hareidim to be shomer shabbos, the rights of those who wish to drive on shabbos have equal merit. ”
WHO ASKED YOU for your non religous opinion on a religious site like this? Quite frankly the chilonim do not have a right to violate shabbos! THEY DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO DRIVE ON SHABBOS! If we had a B'Hamikdash nowadays they would get skelah.This is Hashem's world and He writed the rules.
9
Jun 13, 2009 at 11:25 PM a villainsburger Says:
“ These hareidim could care less about shabbos kodesh. They are trying to make a political statment and regain control over the municipal government so they can increase the money and power going to their yeshivos, kolels and social welfare agencies. ”
Yeah, those chareidim.
I've got news for you. Those chareidim who organized last weeks protest - the Eidah Chareidis, don't give a hoot who is in control of the goverment, and don't accept a penny from the goverment even if offered. So try a different reason why they protested.
How about the chutzpah of a mayor who got into office only thanks to Ger? How about the chutzpah of the municipality attempting to break the "status quo", using an entity owned by the city residents, the majority of them - even without the Eidah - being shomrei shabbos?
Who is forcing what on whom?
Its a MUNICIPAL parking lot. Not Ger Barkat's private property to be used to score political points with the last few ultra secular extremists who haven't emigrated yet.
10
Jun 13, 2009 at 11:06 PM egghead Says:
“ Barkat should call in the security forces if necessary to enforce the law and prevent any further rioting by the hareidim opposed to the parking lot. The future of the medinah as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake. The people of Yerushalayim voted for a secular mayor who would preserve the rights of the non-frumme to live their lives as they wish. Just as we should protect the rights of the hareidim to be shomer shabbos, the rights of those who wish to drive on shabbos have equal merit. ”
Are you sure you're Jewish?
11
Jun 14, 2009 at 04:46 AM #3 Hang your head in shame Says:
WHH
I think the Torah makes abundantly clear the special status of Jerusalem vis a vis every other nation. Anyone who needs clarification about hilchos Yerushalayim should pull out their Rambam Hilchot Beit Habechirah where it describes the different levels of holiness of the city and why. The Torah states that "You shall have one Law, for yourselves and the stranger who dwells among you..." The Torah also states that the nations are obligated to establish courts of Justice. However, this does not translate into support of a secular agenda in Jerusalem #3. Nor is their any Halachic basis for state sponsored Chillul Shabbos. The Hareidi demonstrators of Jerusalem are quite literally keeping the Jewish faith, and in fact are obligated to do so as are all of us and I am deeply ashamed of these responses from Jewish America, who wish to superimpose a ridiculous farce of american pluralism upon the city which must be kept Holy.
12
Jun 14, 2009 at 02:50 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Are you sure you're Jewish? ”
"Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Pepe Allalo told the crowd Saturday that if the lot is not reopened in two weeks "we will reopen it"."
What does this mean? How will they reopen it, if the city keeps it shut? With force? Then what's their claim against the charedim?
13
Jun 14, 2009 at 02:49 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Are you sure you're Jewish? ”
I'm sure he identifies as Jewish; whether he really is is another question. A complete goy would have more respect for Hashem.
14
Jun 14, 2009 at 02:46 AM Milhouse Says:
“ Barkat should call in the security forces if necessary to enforce the law and prevent any further rioting by the hareidim opposed to the parking lot. The future of the medinah as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake. The people of Yerushalayim voted for a secular mayor who would preserve the rights of the non-frumme to live their lives as they wish. Just as we should protect the rights of the hareidim to be shomer shabbos, the rights of those who wish to drive on shabbos have equal merit. ”
For the umpteenth time, those Jews who wish to drive on shabbos HAVE NO RIGHT to do so. Not only is this right not of equal merit, it doesn't exist. EY belongs to God, Who does not recognise either democracy or pluralism as positive values. And this is a Jewish site, where God's word rules, not those of Marx or whomever you follow.
15
Jun 14, 2009 at 08:49 AM Anonymous Says:
hello...any of you guys still believe in bechira? we have to have a choice, no. we should choose over bad...but is still a choice...what is worse...someone who parls on shabbos or a chassid who molests children and steals regularly from his business associates. get a grip, you bunch of hypocrites
16
Jun 14, 2009 at 10:01 AM yoelyg Says:
dont understan, why are this all goyim who atented by the protest need to live in a jewish state? let them go take a life in india or usa
17
Jun 14, 2009 at 11:13 AM Yossi the Yerushalmi Says:
“ Yeah, those chareidim.
I've got news for you. Those chareidim who organized last weeks protest - the Eidah Chareidis, don't give a hoot who is in control of the goverment, and don't accept a penny from the goverment even if offered. So try a different reason why they protested.
How about the chutzpah of a mayor who got into office only thanks to Ger? How about the chutzpah of the municipality attempting to break the "status quo", using an entity owned by the city residents, the majority of them - even without the Eidah - being shomrei shabbos?
Who is forcing what on whom?
Its a MUNICIPAL parking lot. Not Ger Barkat's private property to be used to score political points with the last few ultra secular extremists who haven't emigrated yet.
”
The Laws of Torah, and Lashon HaRa, do not allow us to rush to conclusions concerning the motivations for Mayor Barkat, and then to publicize them. A parking facility owned by the city had been open for many years, with no Hareidi protests. When the police closed this parking lot for security reasons, he was forced to find an alternative. He therefore had no intention of disrupting the status quo.
If I'm not mistaken, the facility used was near the Dung Gate of the Old City, near the Arab village of Silvan. If Eida Chareidi passed this on the way to do Tashlich at Shiloach on Rosh HaShannah, and aquiesced, then why are they protesting now?
18
Jun 14, 2009 at 11:53 AM Milhouse Says:
“ hello...any of you guys still believe in bechira? we have to have a choice, no. we should choose over bad...but is still a choice...what is worse...someone who parls on shabbos or a chassid who molests children and steals regularly from his business associates. get a grip, you bunch of hypocrites ”
There's also a choice whether to murder or steal; that doesn't mean anyone has a right to make the wrong choice.
And chilul shabbos is definitely worse than the other crimes you mentioned.
19
Jun 14, 2009 at 01:57 PM ga Says:
“ hello...any of you guys still believe in bechira? we have to have a choice, no. we should choose over bad...but is still a choice...what is worse...someone who parls on shabbos or a chassid who molests children and steals regularly from his business associates. get a grip, you bunch of hypocrites ”
Why can't there be a single conversation on VIN where no yokel brings up child molestation? (And come to think of it, if I told you to "get a grip", you'd probably call ME a child molestor...)
20
Jun 14, 2009 at 06:05 PM a yid Says:
“ You are naive. The hareidim have the courage of their convcitions while the secular will sit back and allow their rights to be eroded bit by bit until it is too late and the new fait acompli has been established by these zealots. Hopefully they will wake up before it is too late and Yerushalim becomes another Kabul. ”
they have no courage because they have no right!
yershulaim is not kabul neither is it times square new york
21
Jun 14, 2009 at 06:02 PM a yid Says:
“ Barkat should call in the security forces if necessary to enforce the law and prevent any further rioting by the hareidim opposed to the parking lot. The future of the medinah as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake. The people of Yerushalayim voted for a secular mayor who would preserve the rights of the non-frumme to live their lives as they wish. Just as we should protect the rights of the hareidim to be shomer shabbos, the rights of those who wish to drive on shabbos have equal merit. ”
according to????? what makes a right in your mind?