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Interview with “Mother Taliban”

February 17, 2011 by 17 Comments
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Channel 2's "360" program broadcast Yifat Erlich's prison interview with Bruria Keren. For some reason she called her Rabbanit M.—I don't know where the M comes from. Her husband isn't a rabbi, but it is common for female teachers to be known as Rabbanit. Of course the title adds to the drama. I've already reviewed the first broadcast, Erlich's "undercover" investigation of hyper-modesty. Below is a rough translation/summary of the program, with a few comments. You can find the video on Rafi's site. A prison official said that "Rabbanit M" arrived wearing 27 layers. She doesn't shower, she spends all her days with holy books, and doesn't communicate except by writing. When … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hyper-Tzniut Tagged With: , , , , ,

Video: Undercover Reporter Infiltrates “Taliban Women”

February 2, 2011 by 29 Comments
Jewish woman in Jerusalem shuk wearing cloak.

Channel Two's investigative program, 360, broadcast a report about what they called the —œTaliban women.— Yifat Erlich (of Megeirot fame—she's graduated from Makor Rishon newspaper to TV) went undercover to infiltrate the group and interview their leader, Malka Benizri. The report claims that Bruria Keren, who is not identified by name, was  the original leader of the "Taliban women." While it's true that Keren had a following, her group met in Beit Shemesh. I'm sure there was overlap, and perhaps Keren was influenced by this group in Geulah. I don't think there's one" leader." Also, Keren always covered her face and none of the women shown at the Geulah meetings do. Benizri … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hyper-Tzniut Tagged With: , , , ,

Jewish Face-Covering Women Request New School

July 26, 2010 by 31 Comments
veiled woman with stroller

Photo via Hadrei Haredim I had hoped that with the arrest of Bruria Keren, the trend of face-covering among Jewish women would die out. But according to the website Hadrei Haredim, a growing group of women consider face-covering to be halacha (Jewish law) and convince others to follow. These women can be found in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem and Elad. Hadrei Haredim also reported that the religious court of the Edah Charedit in Jerusalem has received several requests by husbands to rule against the veils, which the wives wear without their approval. It appears that at least some of the husbands  support their wives on this issue, because twenty families in Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tzniut/Modesty Tagged With: , ,

Links: Child Abuse Sentence, Guide to Israeli Programs, More

November 6, 2009 by 4 Comments
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The traffic circle pictured above has an agricultural theme and is adjacent to Gan Hachaklaim, the "farmers' park." The park features a collection of agricultural equipment from Jewish farms in the late 19th century. Links for today: Yeshiva University's Guide to Israel Programs for post-high school students. Coffee and Chemo on a ban on Israeli breast cancer researchers by a well-known foundation. At PhD in Parenting, guest poster Erin analyzes breastfeeding "information" provided by a formula company. Simply Jews presents Haveil Havalim. And the "Taliban mother" is sentenced to four years in jail for child abuse. The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday sentenced to four … [Read more...]

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Face-Covering Mother of Twelve Convicted of Child Abuse

July 19, 2009 by 11 Comments

The trial of Bruria Keren, the face-covering mother of 12 who started a movement encouraging hyper-tzniut (extreme modesty), has been convicted of abusing six of her twelve children. Keren attracted the attention of the press in December 2007 because she covered her face, wore multiple layers of clothes, refused to speak while men were present, and persuaded other women to do likewise. Shortly after this "movement" became known in the press, she was arrested for severe child abuse. Here you can find photographs and links to more posts on the subject. According to Ynet, Keren's lawyer brought expert witnesses who recommended psychiatric care for his client, "whose voice I never … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hyper-Tzniut Tagged With: , , , , , ,