Jerusalem – Ramat Beit Shemesh, the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of the Jerusalem suburb of Beit Shemesh, is a different Israel. While in nearby old Beit Shemesh soldiers are walking the streets and hitching rides to their unit rallying points in the South – in Ramat Beit Shemesh one would not even know that there is a war on.
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While cities within 40 kilometers of the Gaza Strip are pounded by short and medium range rockets, Beit Shemesh sits just outside the biggest danger zone. Children walk the streets, schools are open and nobody appears to have changed their daily routine.
Yoni, a local resident recently returned from reserve duty, gave a ride to a “Yerushalmi” Jew from the hassidic enclave of Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet and was shocked to hear that his passenger did not even not know that his country was at war.
“Vos?” he asked Yoni in Yiddish.
“We are at war?” There are those among the Israeli-born haredim who do not listen to the radio, read newspapers or own a television.
The Internet is strictly forbidden. For these, the extreme fringe of the haredi community, news is only obtained through the device of the pashkevil, the broadside posted on walls.
However, even for the American-born, college- educated haredim of Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef, – who are of course aware of the situation – a sense of unreality prevails.
While Micky, a young yeshiva student, told me that his rebbe had been called to the colors, many locals do not have an immediate family member involved in the war. This provides a distance that makes the reality hard to understand for many.
In fact, this cognitive dissonance is so extreme in some cases that as Friday afternoon edged into evening, the locals played their weekly siren – heralding the time to light candles to usher in the Shabbat – without realizing that it sounds similar to the civil defense siren used to herd civilians into bomb shelters, scant kilometers away.
At least one family ducked into their reinforced room, grabbing their children and praying for their continued safety.
Over Shabbat, as I named my newly born daughter (Tovah Rivka) in the synagogue, a friend burst in and called out that he had just seen missiles streak overhead on the way to Jerusalem.
Watching the vapor trail in the sky, it finally dawned on many that the war was not just an abstraction on the news to be discussed heatedly, but from a distance – but rather something that could affect Ramat Beit Shemesh as well.
Content provided as courtesy by The Jerusalem Post
Why doesn’t at least, their rabbi tell them what’s going on? If they saw a truck heading right at them, would they cross the street? Something sick about all this, if you ask me – but, hey, noone asked me
How do you call yourselves ‘people of Hashem’, when you do not even know what is going on in the G-dly world? I disagree that this is the way our G-d wants us to think and work in life. G-d is a god of compassion and enlightenment and if you want to live in a bubble, so goes your whole future. Your G-d is not a god of compassion and enlightenment but now your G-d is a god of closed doors. Sorry that is not Hashem.
I was in Jerusalem in 1973, and we knew full well there was a war on when the army trucks stopped right in front of the shul and the reservists, still wearing their tallesim and kittels, climbed on board to ride to their duty stations.
Ignorance is bliss
Maybe if they joined they’re brethren in arms, they would know what’s going on.
I think hashem gave them the peace cause they are erlic & wearing tzniesdig & having the signs to go normal dress
I suggest they don’t sit idle. They should be prepared because it’s just a matter of time till Hamas obtains missles that can reach them too ch”v.
My suggestion: familiarise yourself with existing bunkers and preparean escape plan.
This is pure blatant blown up media looking for attention and fun.
I have a very close friend in ramat geit shemesh, yes, ultra orthodox with strings attached, no internet, paper, radio etc. YET they were and are fully aware of the current war. In fact they called us to inform us wen it started. So do your research b4 posting nonsense.
And my sons are risking their lives to protect these people!!!
many people- NOT only chareidim have the attitude of “if its not affecting me…i dont want to know about it..” my modern orthodox relative refused to hear about any major tzaros that befell klal yisrael….i remember how disconnected she was to the mumbai massacre HY”D….i was stunned at how shopping and partying was uninterrupted for even a moment…..until….she got sick,….now – its all about her…..thats her pity card that she uses to everyone with an ear….
when its by “yenem”…. whether war, illness, divorce and so on….the pain- the nosei b’ol im chaveiro just doesnt even resonate….others tzaros only serve for gossip fodder….this is in EVERY society- unfortunately..
in terms of the above report- in my humble opinion- its an isolated person…because i have chassidish friends there whom are very updated and worried for all of the soldiers safety and for the safety of the entire jewish nation.
in terms of the shabbos siren- people in charge of it didnt have a chance to realize the trauma it can cause….perhaps someone should bring it to their attention- and the siren can b changed to music as in other communities…
Postings #1 and #2 , are not nice. They seem to forget that a number of years ago, when suicide bombers were routinely coming into EY from the West Bank, and blowing up buses, some of the victims on the buses in Yerushalayim, were Haredim. They also suffered, as did their fellow Israeli citizens. Therefore, let us not be so quick to start bashing them. If Chas V’Shalom, the Arabs start shelling Yerushalayim, they could care less if their shells land in the religious or the non-religious quarters. To them, all Yidden, whether Ultra-Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, or Ultra-Reform, are all one and the same.
This article is spewing sinas chinum. My sister who lives there told me that many men in Ramat Beit Shemesh were called up to the army on erev shabbos and on shabbos. Yes maybe a small minority of people in Israel dont keep up with current events, but the label an entire community as ignorant is a disgrace. Shame on the Jerusalem post for writing the article and shame on this website for posting it. With ahavas chinum we can help our brothers in Eretz Yisroel live in peace, let’s look at the good in each other!
Ignorance is foundation of faith for many people. These extra holy schnorrers don’t even want to know that tens of thousands of men and women around them are making sacrifices to keep everyone safe in the country right now. They will go on to believe that their prayers are stopping missiles that they don’t even know about or care, without ever realizing that hundreds of other Jews from all stripes are not sleeping for days to man Iron Dome radars to keep these Haredim safe and secure in their cocoon of ignorance and arrogance they call yiddishkeit.
That’s because none of their kids left home to help ensure the rockets don’t reach Ramat Beit Shemesh. Mine is riding a tank.
Can you all please stop this Sinas Chinam? Does anyone feel their comments are helping Klal Yisrael? I’m here in RBS and I daven in a Chareidi shul. People are davening every day and taking this very seriously. Stop the nonsense.
I am disappointed and saddened that this site posted a reprint from the jerusalem post which is known for its anti-chareidi venom. Has anyone verified this as being true? (Even If it was true, what purpose does it serve to post this other than to foster sinas-chinam?) FYI, Since last week the shuls have been having gatherings to daven for the safety of all involved. As mommy5 posted reservists were picked up *on shabbos* in rbs as well.
We desperately need ACHDUS, not more hatred against each other. If we each begin to practice AHAVAT CHINAM, we will hasten the full geulah. Let us try our best.
I enjoy reading your website daily. Therefore, you can understand why I am utterly shocked and saddened that you posted this article which is filled with Sinas Chinum and lies. The other day my wife was asking me why they (Hamas) hate us so much. I didn’t have a real answer for her but now the answer is clear to me. The problem isn’t that “they” hate us so much but rather that WE hate each other so much! Not only do I not believe a word in this article (except for when he says they don’t own a TV), but I can prove the contrary! First of all, I am a frum American living in RBS A and I did serve 3 years in a combat unit in the IDF. I haven’t been called up yet and I still go to work in Jerusalem every day- the only difference in my life is I have extra kavana during daveing. I also go on with regular life (As we should be, because that’s precisely what Hamas wants: for us to be all scared etc.) If I can just mention some points 1,”While in nearby old Beit Shemesh soldiers are walking the streets and hitching rides to their unit rallying points in the South”. According to the IDF it’s illegal for soldiers to hitchhike. 2, on Friday morning in “Old Beit Shemesh” the there was a 5K run
which was ran by Jews from RBSA & BS, I dropped my sister in law off there and I didn’t see any “Yerushalmis” there but I did see a lot of other kids enjoying them selves in the run and no one seemed to be running out of fear that a rocket was falling on them! And I gave a lift on my way back to RBSA thorough RBSB to a nice Yerushalmi man who in better Hebrew then mine told me “Thank you for the lift and Hashem should watch over all of us”.It’s true that there are some residents of RBSB whose actions I disagree with, and which may even be considered Assur, but to throw an entire Jewish neighborhood under the bus especially at a time when we all need to stand strong and together is just ridiculous and shocking! Did you know that the residents of Tel Aviv also go about their business as normal?! Please tell me, the “Bursa” (the Israeli stock exchange) located in Tel Aviv, is it closed today?? I think not.You think Hamas is strong? Or has power? NO! This conflict isn’t between Hamas and Israel, it’s between Jews & Jews! Don’t give Hamas credit- they are nothing!! If we are good to each other then they will be good to us, if not -well, then yes, you guessed it- they will have power!
Why was the Beis Hamikdash destroyed?? Why did the students of Reb Shimon Bar Yochi die?? Because both times Jews were mean and disrespectful to one another!!
Enough of this hate and war! Let’s all try to say something or doing something nice to a Jew that is not like we are, and then we can start the process of Hamas stopping to fire rockets at us.
An article is posted about a few people who aren’t in the know and probably don’t care much and all of these “Anonymouses” here take their knives and forks and are ready to carve up the whole neighborhood. You are no different than those residents of Gaza who want the same for the Jews.Shame on yourselves! The level of integrity of the article can quickly be refuted- there are plenty of these people who have stocks investments and are in the know about everything. Yet the hotshots are ready to jump to conclusions and sound off their fog horns. Better keep your mouths shut and let others think you are a fool than opening it and proving it.
This article is ridiculous. I live in Ramat Beit Shemesh. I don’t know of anyone who is so out of touch that they’re unaware of what’s going on. People are talking about the war at bus stops and when you stand in line in the supermarket. When my husband arrived at shul on Shabbos, people were discussing the safest place to go just in case there was a siren. Since it has been pretty quiet here (bli ayin hara), some have opened up their homes to people who are escaping the rocket fire. In my son’s school, they’re saying tehillim and they went over what to do if a siren is heard.
no problem with me, because if one day the arabs were to invade that area, I will not go there with my soldiers to defend them
I’m sorry, but this article is simply not true. I live in RBS and I can say that we are very much aware of the war. Many of us have family in the army, sons brothers etc. The idea that everyone is against the IDF is simply not true. Everyone is trying to pitch in, there is are groups being set up to send sup piles to families in need, raise money, invited people into our homes and whatever else needs to be done. There is a ;large scale effort underway to create a resource pool for those who need it. There is a massive list of people who have volunteered to help, and many shuls are setting up special projects to aid those in need. On a spiritual level, every shul I have been to, and I daven in a pretty Chassidish place has special teffilahs being said for both the families and the brave soldiers serving.
On a more practical level, it’s simply not believable that people don’t know whats going on. There is a chance something could happen here. As anyone who has kids will verify, schools are running drills and explaining to children what is going on, and shuls are giving safety speeches. I’m sorry, but this article is simply not true.
What an antisemitic article. All charedim know there’s a war going on. For one thing, they do read newspapers. Do you think yated doesn’t talk about the war? An ignorant anti-Jewish reporter presumes to know what charedim know and are thinking.
I davened in a shul this friday night, the baal tefilah was a Satmar rosh yeshiva he annonced before burchu that the mispalelim should recite 2 kapitlich tehilim for the matsav in Eretz Yisroel, I know to some of you that not enough.
We can make this about Chareidim, we can make this about Chilonim. We can make this about Tznius. We can make this about internet. Whatever the issues are, I beg everyone to stop. This article shouldn’t have been posted by a frum website. There is no positive coming out of this article. Its a way to stir controversy when emotions are high because of the tragedies. Let’s not fall for this trap. Lets stand together and show them that we are better than they think.
there were no sirens in parts of ramat b