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Exclusion of (Breastfeeding) Women in Beit Shemesh and Hod Hasharon

September 7, 2012 by 30 Comments
image: religious mom breastfeeding in Israeli park

Hebrew text of Navon correspondence with Israel PostPublic breastfeeding is in the news again, after a nursing mom was asked to leave a café in the Sharonim mall in Hod Hasharon. Tal Eisenberg asked a waitress to find her a comfortable seat to nurse her baby. Tal then overheard the shift manager asking the waitress whether Tal was nursing, and instructing her to find an excuse to make Tal leave. That waitress, and then a second one, approached Tal and asked her to leave without explanation. Tal and her mother took the baby, who was by now screaming at having his feeding interrupted, and left the café. She posted her story on the huge Facebook group "Mamazone," whose members left angry … [Read more...]

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News and Links on Beit Shemesh

January 2, 2012 by 2 Comments

Since the documentary aired last week (now updated with clearer subtitles), the girls of Orot in Beit Shemesh have been able to get to school with no problem. The publicity achieved its immediate goal. Whether it will work in the long term remains to be seen. Some of the haredi response has included attacks on the secular press for inciting against all haredim.  The most blatant example  of such a response was a a protest in Jerusalem Saturday evening that included children and adults dressed as Holocaust victims, complete with Jewish stars. A followup story on Channel 2 had interviews with haredi residents of Beit Shemesh, claiming that the extremists were in the same category as … [Read more...]

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Beit Shemesh School Battle

August 30, 2011 by 29 Comments

School conflicts and strikes are a normal part of Israeli life at this time of year. Today we take you to Beit Shemesh (again). Several years ago the education ministry and the municipality of Beit Shemesh built a new building for  the girls of Orot, a state-religious elementary school. The new school adjoins the boys' branch of the school and borders a haredi neighborhood.  (Rafi has a map with explanations.) When protesters from the haredi buildings began vandalizing the building, the Orot parents from the school camped there overnight. A participant told me that she was called a Nazi and a prutza (whore). People threw garbage and feces. The mayor has refused to grant a license to … [Read more...]

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Interesting Links #4: The Shidduch Crisis, Israeli Humor, Toddlers, and More

May 13, 2010 by 5 Comments

Sign up for the Amphora Blogging Seminar on May 26 by Friday, May 14 with Karin Kloosterman and Eran Davidov, for an early-bird discount. Sarah's guest post on expat humor is especially timely in light of Michael Ben-Ari's (National Union) proposal to prosecute those who publicly make fun of any racial, ethnic or religious group. Until now, only Arabs are protected. Who says there is no creativity in the Orthodox world? Check out this poem at Matzav.Com suggesting a solution to the dating crisis in the American haredi world. An excerpt: While over a thousand boys Are shteiging away, Day after day Over their Gemaros they sway, Across the ocean, Over a thousand … [Read more...]

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Sending a Child to a School Where She’s Not Wanted

April 19, 2010 by 6 Comments

Rafi left the following comment on the story of the principal from Beit Shemesh who threatened a student with social isolation: It is sad that this is happening, and I don't understand why the parents insist on sending the kid to this school that doesn't want her. Whatever the reason is, right or wrong, why not just send to another school? There are so many, why davka (specifically) the one that refuses to take you? I don't blame the kid, and the school's behavior is revolting, but some blame must be laid at the feet of the parents as well. Maybe it really is not the right school for this kid and they are simply insisting for stupid reasons. Parents have all kinds of reasons to send to … [Read more...]

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