Hadarat Nashim
Filed under: A New Reality, education, General, History and Culture, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Politics, Religion
On my way downtown this morning on the Egged bus (the 74, which makes its way from the southern end of Jerusalem to the northern end via Derech Hevron, then onto Keren Hayesod and King George), we sidled alongside a protest of some sorts, taking place on the street, along King George. We on the bus all looked on in interest, trying to figure out who and what was being protested.
For my part, I noticed the, by and large, lack of kippot or covered heads for women, so it was a clearly mostly secular crowd. It wasn’t until I saw one of the signs that mentioned “הדרת נשים”, that I realized it was another protest, one of many of late, demanding respect for the exclusion of women. And so, when the woman across from me — wearing a sheitel — asked what the protest was about, I was able to tell her. And she nodded, along with others in the bus.
The only reason I now know the term hadarat nashim, or exlusion of women, (I originally wrote dignity of women, as it was first described to me), is because it’s become a catchphrase in our daily language over the last few weeks. After the recent spate of incidents on buses, with women being told to sit in the back, to segregate themselves from the men, people are speaking out in the streets, in the newspapers, and on the buses.
I learned the term at a parlor meeting with Councilwoman Rachel Azaria, who’s becoming well-known in these parts for her great work on the part of young families in Jerusalem, but primarily for having her portfolio taken away by the mayor for petitioning the High Court of Justice to immediately remove gender barriers in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods that were erected during Sukkot. It was once more of a ‘gender studies’ kind of term, a friend of mine told me, whose sister teaches gender studies, but has now become much more common, because we appear to need to understand the concept in these parts.
In the meantime, back to the protest. Got off the bus, just across from the plaza in front of the former Hamashbir department store, where the protesters were gathering and dancing to some Hadag Nachash being blasted from the speakers.
And who should I bump into but Rachel Azaria, just making her way into the crowd, and getting ready to speak. We said hi, and I told her thanks for teaching me the term hadarat nashim. She responded, “You would have learned it sooner or later.” True, I told her, but more memorable to learn it from her.
Duplex of Dreams
Filed under: A New Reality, coexistence, education, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life, News, Politics, Social Justice
While the newspapers are packed with commentary on the ‘Tent Protest’ and the fact that some 150,000 Israelis took to the streets Saturday night (July 30) in the name of social justice, seeing the pictures and reading about it just isn’t the same as actually being there.
It was to “see” and “feel” a bit of history in the making that we went to Rothschild Boulevard last night.
As any Tel Aviv resident knows, Rothschild Boulevard is always teeming with people. And wandering up and down this street is an endeavor cherished by all of this city’s dwellers.
Now, the thoroughfare has been transformed into a campground. But this is no regular campsite; these campers are armed with wit, a desire for change and loads of energy.
This is a well-oiled happening. There’s a kitchen tent area, an information center, a communications tent, a yoga space and a barber tent. Some people pitched just a tent while others brought their living rooms with them.
And it was difficult not to be swept up by the enthusiasm as we walked around the tents, reading the handmade signs posted wherever the tape would stick.
Some signs were political, others were hilariously witty. Each sign was in support of one of the social crises at stake: housing, health, education, gasoline, child care, etc.
There were signs we disagreed with, and others that we endorsed.
"Duplex on Rothschild: If to dream about an apartment, then all the way." (Photo: Viva Sarah Press)
“Duplex on Rothschild: If to dream about an apartment, then all the way,” read one sign.
“Looking for a groom with his own apartment,” read another.
There were also “house numbers” on each tent, but instead of Rothschild Boulevard, the name of the street was listed as Tents Boulevard.
Tents Boulevard instead of Rothschild Boulevard. (Photo: Viva Sarah Press)
Rothschild Boulevard is often the site of outdoor exhibits. In a way, the protest tents are an exhibition of today’s word on the street.
And the word on the street is that social services are constitutional rights. As Daphni Leef, one of the leaders of the ‘Tent Protest’ said: “We do not want to replace the government, we want much more than that – to change the rules of the game and say loud and clear: Social services are rights, not commodities.”
There were tens of thousands of people, but no one pushed. The atmosphere along the boulevard was one of hope.
The protestors are people who love their country but also want social justice. They are people who are not just asking for cheaper rent, but those who want to be able to be able to afford living in a place they call home.
Havdallah on Rothschild Blvd. during the Tent Protest. (Photo: Viva Sarah Press)
A medley of everyone seemed to be represented. A group of ultra-orthodox men held a havdallah service about 10 tents away from a young group of dread-locked Israelis, singing and dancing and jamming on their guitars. An older couple sat on one of the benches lining the paths watching as families with children on their parents’ shoulders walked by.
The pedestrian traffic going to and from the central tent area was non-stop.
I wonder how the founders of the city would react to today’s ‘Tent Protest’ taking over the boulevard that in 1909 was planned explicitly as a central public space.
Pants off to Israel’s motorcycle protestors
Maybe it’s the hot weather, but protesters in Israel seem to like to get naked. The latest group to strip down to their underpants were the motorcyclists, hundreds of whom took to the streets of Tel Aviv late last week protesting against a hike in their insurance fees.
This is the fourth demo by the motorcycle community, who are getting increasingly incensed by the thought of the insurance rise, which is due to take place in November. In the last protest they snarled up route 2 causing heavy traffic jams.
Their motto this time was “They are leaving us without coverage”, which in Hebrew is a play on words that also means “without clothes/covers”. Hence the absolute necessity to whip off their clothes.
Walla covered the protest with lots of snaps and a video – naked people make good news obviously.
The demonstration comes just a few months after the Israel Bicycle Association and the Tel Aviv Rollers staged another protest ride to oppose the lack of government support for urban bike riding – in their thongs.
David reported on the bike protest here in Israelity. From a purely visceral point of view, it probably made better viewing, as bike riders and roller-bladers tend to be in much better shape than bikers.
But as Stephanie pointed out in her nude demo post a couple of years back – shape isn’t what counts in a naked protest.
Pic by Liron Almog/Flash 90. The sign at the back, by the way, reads: “The insurance companies strip us naked.”
Foto Friday – Workers of the Promised Land
Filed under: Foto Friday, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Life, Politics
In the spirit of May 1st, here are a few shots from the big demonstration held in Tel Aviv by socialist youth movement HaNoar HaLomed. But first, a picture from the archives of Marxist movement Matzpen, and their May 1st march in 1979.
And the face of Israeli socialism today:
Three thousand marched from Rabin Square…
…to the Histadrut headquarters where the rally was held.
What would these members of HaShomer HaTzair make of the new socialist revival?
Picture from the Labor Movement archive
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