The nature of Jerusalem

September 8, 2008 - 1:12 PM by

There’s a discussion that keeps getting repeated around certain Jerusalem gatherings these days, particularly in these weeks leading up to the mayoral elections. It’s the question of whether Jerusalem is, or is becoming ultra Orthodox, and what will that mean for those of us who are not?

One story being circulated last weekend regarded the additional eruv erected around Kiryat Hayovel, as the new, ultra Orthodox residents of the neighborhood didn’t feel the existing eruv was sufficient for their needs. There are the increasingly empty secular schools, while ultra Orthodox schools seek more space for their growing population. And there’s the upcoming election, which is pitting an ultra-Orthodox candidate, Meir Porush, against a Russian oligarch, Arcady Gaydamak, and a secular, independent businessman, Nir Barkat. There’s also the strong possibility that Aryeh Deri, a former Shas star, will also enter the race.jerusalem_emblem(2)1.jpg

It’s a race that perpetuates the nagging question of who really represents the character of the capitol…and Jerusalemites feel that the nature and character of the city will increasingly depend upon who’s sitting in City Hall.

But, a real estate piece in today’s Haaretz says that the numbers don’t necessarily support the prevailing feelings.

“There is evidence of a moderate increase in demand by ultra-Orthodox families throughout the city, and a significant increase in demand by Haredi families in certain quarters of the capital.

The real figures may come as a surprise. Many Jerusalem neighborhoods are indeed increasingly characterized by an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle. But a study of the demographic changes in the city shows that, in relation to Jerusalem’s entire Jewish population, the proportion of ultra-Orthodox has increased quite modestly in recent years.

Jerusalem today has 740,000 residents, 480,000 of whom are Jewish. Dr. Maya Choshen of The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies says that according to the institute’s estimates, in 1995 the ultra-Orthodox constituted 29% of the city’s Jewish population while in 2000, the figure was 30%. Today it’s 32%, or some 196,000 people.

These figures illustrate that the increase of Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox population over the last 13 years was modest. By 2020, the proportion of Haredim out of the city’s total Jewish population isn’t likely to exceed 35%.”

Hard to tell what it all really means. Will another haredi mayor send Jerusalem farther down the path toward total ultra Orthodoxy? Will the liberal religious and secular pockets of Jerusalem prevail? Will a Nir Barkat answer these particular needs, or is that just wishful thinking? And does any of it matter? It seems that only time will tell.

Tags: , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Politics, Religion 

Comments

5 Comments on The nature of Jerusalem

  1. Maskil on Tue, Sep 9th 2008 6:42 PM

    2. Please see my blog post “Jerusalem of Gold or Jerusalem of Black?” for some suggestions on how to salvage Jerusalem for its inhabitants, Israel, and the Jewish people as a whole.

    http://blog.altneuland.info/2008/08/jerusalem-of-gold-or-jerusalem-of-black.html

  2. Jessica on Tue, Sep 9th 2008 9:49 PM

    3. thanks, will check it out.

  3. sheldan on Wed, Sep 10th 2008 5:02 AM

    4. Maskil’s comments remind me of something. I recall a similar “proposal” in which there would be two states, “Judah” with its capital in Jerusalem and “Israel” with its capital in Tel Aviv. (Hmmm…sounds like we were in this position in the book of Kings…:-) )

    The debate as I recall was about a split between a religious (but not necessarily Haredi-controlled) Jewish state (Judah) and a secular state (Israel). My immediate reaction is that many of us, if forced to choose, would live right on the border so that we could have access to both. :-)

    Maskil apparently is raising the point that Jerusalem is getting to this point with the Haredim in Jerusalem becoming more prominent. I also worry about the “Haredization” of Israel (but I won’t go so far as to label it “Haredistan”!
    :-) )

    I wish that the Haredim would recognize that their strictures are not necessarily those of all religious (or all) Jews. I worry about their standards becoming the “gold” standard of religious life in Israel; Orthodoxy is not monolithic and this has to be recognized. I try to have respect for all my fellow Jews, including those on both sides of me–but I think ultimately we will all have to live together. My personal opinion is that Jerusalem will still be the Jewish people’s eternal capital, no matter what.

  4. Joel Katz on Wed, Sep 10th 2008 12:17 PM

    5. The headline for the Haaretz article Is Jerusalem really becoming ultra-Orthodox? The figures may surprise you is just that: a headline.

    The substance of article is found deeper in the article.

    This includes the following:

    “Demographic changes partly explain the process of Haredization in some of Jerusalem’s neighborhoods, but further elucidation seems required.

    One explanation is that crowding in the ultra-Orthodox areas has diminished in recent years.

    …Another explanation for the Haredization of certain areas is the availability of alternative housing solutions for the departing population.

    …The bottom line is that there is a demand for housing by the ultra-Orthodox throughout Jerusalem, and real growth in certain areas.

    …Another element in Jerusalem is the entry of ultra-Orthodox builders into the market.”

    Joel Katz

    Religion and State in Israel

    http://religionandstateinisrael.blogspot.com/

  5. Maskil on Wed, Sep 10th 2008 3:18 PM

    6. Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Sheldan. The Haredistan proposal tongue in cheek, rather just to illustrate how out of step Jerusalem is becoming with many of its inhabitants, Israel, and the rest of the Jewish world.

    My proposal that the Israeli central government take over the running of Greater Jerusalem is, however, a serious one.

    I don’t want to be seen to be promoting the idea of two separate Jewish states in Eretz Israel. That was a divisive Kahanist fantasy. I do believe, though, that a Jewish State that is democratic, secular and Western holds the best hope for satisfying the needs of all Jews.

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