As a matter of custom women sit in the back portion of the bus, because the ultra-Orthodox avoid mingling of the sexes according to their beliefs. She was the first passenger that morning on the bus and took a seat behind the driver. As the bus took on more passengers along its route, an ultra-orthodox man demanded she should sit in the back of the bus as is the custom on that route.
“I heard him call me ‘Shikse,’” Rosenblit wrote on her Facebook page, referencing a Yiddish term for a non-Jewish woman. “He demanded I sit in the back of the bus, because Jewish men couldn’t sit behind women (!!!). I refused.”
I had to assist in an interview of an old, grouchy Hasid once, my partner at the time was female, she verbally tore the guy a new asshole, tossed his bags and threatened to strip search him after he spit at her. I gave serious thought to leaving the room to get a coffee so she could have some private time with him. Good for Rosenblit; about time these guys get put in their place (reduced taxes, no mandatory military service, they suckle on the Israeli tit but make no sacrifices; riding on the backs of those Israelis that do).
Let’s make sure we don’t lump all tribe members with these guys. Many Orthodox Jews are great people. However, as kmrtnsn said, the particular Jews discussed suck on the Israeli tit and barely contribute. Don’t forget most Jews do not condone their behavior. I practice many of the same customs, but I would never treat a woman as a second class citizen simply b/c she is a woman. As a matter of fact, these types royally piss me off for several reasons and if I ever witnessed this type of behavior, I would have said/done something; including going physical.
10-4, thanks for clarifying for me, I should have typed a line or two more.
Israel, although not one of my favorite countries, has many shining examples of doing things right as a people and a society, and just like us, many of doing things wrong. I have traveled all over the world. I have lived in South America and South and South East Asia and from my own observations from my travels and experiences I can say that extremism, regardless of the political or religious flavor of it is never a good thing.
It ain’t even Jews specifically. You can substitute Muslim, Christian or Buddhist and I’d have exactly the same problem. Dark Age people who refuse to join the modern world and make it suck for others.
I just wish people could use religion to try and live better lives and leave it at that. But I know that is asking way too much for some people.
Once again, this is BS behavior. They bring shame on all Jews, including me. Who the fuck do they think they are? They have NO right to impose their beliefs on anyone else. If they don’t like the way the people on the MTA buses sit, then don’t get the fuck on. Israel has buses specifically for the ultra-Orthodox; the jerk discussed in the OP decided he would get on a “normal” bus and impose his beliefs on everyone. Complete BS.
While I completely agree with your assessment, I don’t think they shame all Jews anymore than Fred Phelps shames all Christians.
Your rejection of the practice IMO exempts you from any shared criticism. I sorta suspect that many people in Israel share the sentiment. We’ll have to see if it is a true Rosa Parks moment or not.
But seriously, bullies like that have a really low tolerance for direct counter-action- especially if it can come from the people that they are trying to put down.
Can we send them Gloria Stienem and the GLAD gals, or is that too harsh?
It seems fringe groups around the world are itching for a fight. From these ass-clowns to the OWA to pick-the-fun-for-mentals of the week. When do we get to the actual skull cracking and these guy figure out how fringe they are?