Jerusalem – The High Court today ruled that no new “mehadrin” bus lines should be established – but that the ones that were currently operating could continue to do so, as long as male and female passengers were not forced to sit in separate parts of the bus, but did so voluntarily.
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Buses operating on mehadrin lines should allow passengers to board buses from the front and the back, in order to lessen the discomfort of passengers. It would be better, said the court, to allow more private bus lines to cater to those who wish to travel on mehadrin buses, a policy the Transport Ministry opposes.
The judges – Elyakim Rubenstein, Yoram Dantziger and Salim Jubran – ruled that the State must also make sure that on the existing “mehadrin” buses, as they are called, separate seating for men and women are not enforced. Men and women may be directed to get on and off the bus via separate doors, however.
The “mehadrin” lines are popular in areas populated by hareidi-religious Jews, but have caused controversy even there on occasion. Several women have reported being disgraced or even assaulted when they “dared” to sit in a spot reserved for men.
The judges acknowledged that the option of separate-seating bus lines in certain neighborhoods should be considered, where there is a demand for such.
The court said that it also did not care for the term “mehadrin” as applied to buses. “We are not talking about Chanuka candles or kosher meat or an etrog. Apparently, based on incidents we have heard about (of women who complained of being forced to move out of their seats), not everyone who is striving for a high level of modesty, is striving for a high level of respecting their fellow Jews as well,” the court said.
“… Apparently, based on incidents we have heard about (of women who complained of being forced to move out of their seats), not everyone who is striving for a high level of modesty, is striving for a high level of respecting their fellow Jews as well,” the court said.”
sad, right? so concerned about their tzenua that they’ll beat up the lady who dares sit in “their” seat. i guess “modesty” is more important than ahavas yisroel. such a shame.
The court’s decision makes sense and will hopefully signal and end to this meshugaas of forcing women to the back of the bus. Any frum woman with self respect will sit wherever she wants even on the mehadrin buses and they will gradually be “desegregated” as well. The really good news implicit within this decision by the Court is that a large number of really overweight chareidim who will refuse to ride the mixed buses will have to WALK and now get some badly needed exercise. For this reason alone, the Court’s decision is a great outcome even for the Chareidim.
“not everyone who is striving for a high level of modesty, is striving for a high level of respecting their fellow Jews as well,” the court said.
From Yeshayohu perek 1:
לָמָּה־לִּי רֹב־זִבְחֵיכֶם יֹאמַר ה’ שָׂבַעְתִּי עֹלֹות אֵילִים וְחֵלֶב מְרִיאִים וְדַם פָּרִים וּכְבָשִׂים וְעַתּוּדִים לֹא חָפָֽצְתִּי׃ כִּי תָבֹאוּ לֵרָאֹות פָּנָי מִי־בִקֵּשׁ זֹאת מִיֶּדְכֶם רְמֹס חֲצֵרָֽי׃ לֹא תֹוסִיפוּ הָבִיא מִנְחַת־שָׁוְא קְטֹרֶת תֹּועֵבָה הִיא לִי חֹדֶשׁ וְשַׁבָּת קְרֹא מִקְרָא לֹא־אוּכַל אָוֶן וַעֲצָרָֽה׃ חָדְשֵׁיכֶם וּמֹועֲדֵיכֶם שָׂנְאָה נַפְשִׁי הָיוּ עָלַי לָטֹרַח נִלְאֵיתִי נְשֹֽׂא׃ וּבְפָרִשְׂכֶם כַּפֵּיכֶם אַעְלִים עֵינַי מִכֶּם גַּם כִּֽי־תַרְבּוּ תְפִלָּה אֵינֶנִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יְדֵיכֶם דָּמִים מָלֵֽאוּ׃ רַחֲצוּ הִזַּכּוּ הָסִירוּ רֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם מִנֶּגֶד עֵינָי חִדְלוּ הָרֵֽעַ׃ לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב דִּרְשׁוּ מִשְׁפָּט אַשְּׁרוּ חָמֹוץ שִׁפְטוּ יָתֹום רִיבוּ אַלְמָנָֽה׃
Hint: the novi said that to frum people , who keep Shabbos, learn and daven, but do not protect the almoone and the yesoimim, who do not fight for justice and fairness.
May be mehadrin lines are good, may be not, but it is a disgrace when such hiddurim become associated with pushing, shoving & yelling against women.
very good. those “meshugoim” who don’t want to be with a woman on a bus should stay home!
If they dnt want to sit near a lady dnt go on a bus….I think its extreme….and also I’m asking bec I’d like to know…how come religious jews think ladys are bad? And u can’t have to do with them? I honastlly would like to know if some one can answer me
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Why such hatred of Charedim
I find Number 6 to be particularily offensive.
Only if the buses are ‘public’ buses (city run) can the courts impose their ban. But, if the chareidi community would have their own privately run buses, then they could do as they wish!
I never thought these buses were mehadrin anyways. The women in the same room as the men!? True mehadrin buses have the men on the inside and the women on the outside.