Sex-Segregation, The New Apartheid

In recent events in Israeli news, I heard about two stories, each occurring in different times to two different elder women in two different cities in Israel. Both women got on a bus and both women were attacked by two Orthodox Jews for - in one event, sitting next to him in a seat that is reserved for elderly people, and on the other, for sitting at the same kind of seat, in a "separated" line. Now, before I go on I'll explain what meticulous lines are and why they exist in the first place.

According to Orthodox Judaism, a woman is bad influence and can cause men to stray from their ways; meaning, they won't pray, or that they will be aroused by her "god forbid". That can be caused by either a woman being in the same room with them, or, sitting next to them in public transportation, for that matter.
In some cities in Israel it is common to find separated lines, where women - just like in good ol' apartheid days, sit in the back whilst men sit in the front - for the comfort of the Orthodox Jews public. That is, even though there is no state law that allows them to operate. Only reason they do, is public pressure that Israeli public transportation companies have to follow, or they will lose income.

Anyway, the first woman was attacked verbally and physically by a young man who refused to let her sit next to him, again, in a seat that was reserved for her. The other passengers assisted the woman, and the bus driver had to interfere and move the young man to a different seat, that is after the woman was already attacked. In another event, the secular, elder woman, got on a separated line knowingly - and asked to sit at the very same seat that is reserved to elderly people by state law. And yet, the 18 years old Orthodox Jew verbally attacked the woman for doing so, since it is a separated line. Threatened by his behavior, the woman sprayed him with teargas and is now facing charges for assault.

In both events, the two women stood for their rights, and claimed their sits rightfully. Our very own Rosa Parks and I salute them.

In Israel of 2010, there are no laws that allow separated lines, yet, there are no laws that prohibit them - Until now. We, nonreligious citizens of Israel, have to watch ourselves so that we won't offend those who are and yet, certain people in a certain public, feel that in the name of their God, they are above the law, above… morality?

As Chazal (Jewish Sages) say "Derech Eretz Kadma Latorah" - "Manners come before the Torah" and in every bus in Israel you will find the phrase from Leviticus 19:32 "Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged". These two young Orthodox Jews didn't have manners, and certainly didn't respect an elder woman.

In the beginning of next week Israel's Minister of Transportation, Mr. Israel Katz will present his stance on this issue to Israel's High Court of Justice. Mr. Israel Katz feels that there is nothing wrong with allowing this minority to demand and receive sex-separated public transportation, for a cheaper bus fare non the less - with two possibilities, one, separation of both sexes under a voluntary agreement and under the supervision of the office of Transportation, and the other, operating of such service through private bus companies. In both cases, either way - tax money will be the only way of funding such thing.

This is by far one of the greatest examples of how the Ultra-Orthodox minority in Israel succeeds to extort the Israeli government on the back of the secular, tax-paying people. Approving of such thing would be a great waste of funds that could benefit far better things and yet, because of the great power Ultra-Orthodox public has in the Israeli government and because of the current status quo where Israel is supposedly a democratic Jewish state - what is currently illegally executed will become legal, amongst other things we will become one step closer into becoming a real theocracy.


Shelly

* Originally posted January 08, 2010 via YouTube.