Jerusalem – “There is no reason on earth for a person to raise a hand – let alone on helpless girls.” Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul said Tuesday in reference to Na’ama Margolis, the seven-year-old girl who was spat on by a haredi man who claimed she was not dressed “modestly enough.”
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Addressing the recent acts of violence against women in his city perpetrated by local ultra-Orthodox, the mayor said “there is no pardon for those who behave provocatively. Rioters should be dealt with a firm hand.”
Abutbul spoke to reporters at his office just hours before a mass demonstration is expected to take place in the city against the exclusion of women from the public sphere. “Beith Shemesh denounces such behavior. Violent men belong behind bars. I urge Israel Police to act with a firm hand against all the rioters, and I call on you (the press) not to put all (the ultra-Orthodox) in one basket,” the mayor said.
Tznius for a girl doesn’t apply until about age 9. The girl was doing nothing wrong. And there is no excuse to spit on a girl.
I have heard from a family that had a similar experience. Their daughter, also about 6 or 7, was screamed at when she walked home from school. She asked her parents what zona was because the people were screaming it at her. There is no excuse for it. The rabanim have to stop the chillul Hashem perpetrated by these nuts. If not, shtika kihoida- and they are implicit in it as well (midinei shamayem).
Mr mayor: the jewish people didn’t raise a hand they just put normal signs & the police came to take it down & make provacations, so its the police fold for all this mass
Its too bad. The Charedim have this mayor in their pocket, so he won’t really do anything.
Where was the mayor in all the months this was a major issue until now? Why does he only have religious scruples now?
Thankfully some people have gained something from this whole story like this mayor who certainly got plenty of attention.
Anyone that lays a hand on my child will have that hand broken.
I recently traveld on an Elal flight from New York to Israel, and Hagoen Reb. Berel Povarsky was on board ,and seated next to a non frum women. i attemted to switch my seat ,to hers,to enable the Rosh hayeshiva to sit next to a frum man. The women saw what was going on, and she insisted she is not moving “no way” the Rosh Hayeshiva saw that she is not willing to budge,he told me please dont make a scene as not to hurt her feelings.I met the Rosh hyeshiva at a later time and he thanked me for not hurting her . So let all these great fanatics read this story and learn from a Talmud chuchem how to act in public
#14 – unfortunately we need him and other rabbanim to teach us the difference between halachicot /chumrot, how to act in public and the importance of not hurting someones feelings.
Any1 who raises their hand on my child will have no doros. Williamsburg happenes to be very similar to Beth Shemesh in this aspect. People raise their voice and opinion for anything if its for Eruv or Gredge building (for those who know) the banners that said woman should move over, 111 lee ave, Gal Paz, groal on lee, and so forth. these fanatics don’t know when to stop. Live and let live touch my child once and u won’t see doros that’s a promise
All this mayor cares about are the ultra orthodox and their money. i do not believe a word he says .Look at the picture he is surrounded by these people.Its a shame Israel allows people like this to win mayor.He stopped the building of a brand new state of the art movie theater in beit shemesh proper.Because ultra orthodox are moving into the area and this mayor is building 30,000 homes for them.so how can he not heed there warnings about building a movie theater.Who knows what other demands this mayor is giving into behind the poor Army serving Democratic Israeli persons back.I hope all these ultra orthodox get there reward in this world and the next .But I would not bet on it.
Is this mayor the guy who used to act in the frum Hebrew CDs from Israel? How cute! I remember his acting was quite mediocre, I sure hope he’s doing a better job as mayor!
I’m sorry, but this Mayor SHOULD have stood up against the hoodlums at the beginning of the school year rather than waiting until the damage was done, there was international media attention, and the government parties were engaged. I wouldn’t want to be a politician.