YNET Superbus transportation company will pay NIS 13,000 (some $3,200) in compensations to Ariella Marsden, a 15-year-old high school student who was asked by a bus driver to move to the back of the bus in order to allow two haredi men to sit in the front.
During her testimony, Marsden described the chain of events, saying she boarded the bus on the way back from school with two of her friends and sat in the front. Shortly afterwards, two haredi men boarded the bus and stood in the front, even tough there were vacant seats in the back. According to Marsden, the driver then asked her and her friends to move to the back of the bus, and they complied. However, by that time there were no empty seats and the three were forced to stand for the duration of the ride.
Attorney Orly Erez- Lahovski from the Israel Religious Action Center said "the verdict is another step in the battle against the exclusion of women in the public transportation system, and sends a message to drivers and company owners that discrimination is not only illegal, but will also be costly.
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/133000/Draft-Law-Controversy-Involves-American-Rabbonim-Too.html
ReplyDeleteAccording to a Chadrei Chareidim report, on Tuesday evening Israel time, Eida Chareidis Ravaad HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita telephoned the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, Rav Zalman Leib Teitlebaum Shlita. Eida secretary Rav Yaakov Riter who made the call was also on the line.
Rav Sternbuch briefed the rebbe as to the events in Eretz HaKodesh regarding ongoing efforts to draft avreichim. Rav Sternbuch is quoted as saying “It appears the gezeira will happen and you must protest and take action to stop this using all your strength”.
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The three spoke towards formulating a plan as how best make the voice of protest audible. At some point, Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Malkiel Kotler joined the conversation.
The decision was made to join forces for a unified fight including chareidim in the United States and Eretz Yisrael. This will include statements from rabbonim and roshei yeshiva shlita.
Announcements are expected in the coming days regarding tefilla rallies and other measures.
Two quick points:
ReplyDelete1. The fact that the Israel Religious Action Center ("the public and legal advocacy arm of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism") was involved is a chilul HaShem.
2. The whole issue is a chilul HaShem. The posek hador, Rav Moshe Feinstein, dealt with a much more complex issue, riding a crowded subway, in Iggros Moshe (EH II:14), long ago. This is a huge kal vechomer, a non-issue, and is divisive for no reason.
To sum up: This issue is a lose-lose proposition, and there are many more important issues that should be dealt with.