Mea Shearim: Difference between revisions
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''Isaac sowed in that land, and in that year he reaped "מאה שערים - a hundredfold"; God had blessed him.'' <ref>[http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=1&CHAPTER=26 Genesis 26]</ref> |
''Isaac sowed in that land, and in that year he reaped "מאה שערים - a hundredfold"; God had blessed him.'' <ref>[http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=1&CHAPTER=26 Genesis 26]</ref> |
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The neighborhood remains an Old World enclave in the midst of a city that aspires to modernity. With its overwhelmingly ultra-Orthodox population, the streets retain the flavor of an East European shtetl. Life revolves around strict adherence to [[Halakha|Jewish law]], prayer and the study of Jewish texts. Traditions in dress hark back to Eastern Europe, with black frock coats and black or fur-trimmed hats for men (although there are many other clothing styles, depending on the religious sub-group they belong to), and long-sleeved, modest clothing for women. In some groups, the women wear thick black stockings all year long, even in summer. Married women wear a variety of headcoverings, from wigs to headscarves. The men have beards and some grow long sidecurls, called payot. On the Sabbath, members of some Hasidic dynasties change out of their everyday black and wear distinctive light-color or striped robes. |
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The neighborhood has conserved its traditional pious character, with its orthodox population of [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi Jews]] and the customs of old [[History of the Jews in Hungary|Hungarian Jewish]] centers. They follow all aspects of [[Halakha|Jewish law]] from the [[Tanakh|Bible]], [[Talmud]] and [[Shulchan Aruch]]. |
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==Neighbourhood regulations == |
==Neighbourhood regulations == |
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Revision as of 06:51, 19 April 2007
Meah Shearim, (Hebrew: מאה שערים), is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Jerusalem. It was established in 1874 by a building society of 100 shareholders who pooled their resources to build a new neighborhood outside the walls of the Old City, which was severely overcrowded and plagued by poor sanitation. The early inhabitants were members of the Perushim community, whose parents and grandparents, disciples of the Vilna Gaon, settled in Palestine in the early part of the century.
The name "Meah Shearim" was taken from a verse in the Bible - Genesis 26:12 - in the hopes that the neighborhood would thrive and expand:
Isaac sowed in that land, and in that year he reaped "מאה שערים - a hundredfold"; God had blessed him. [1]
The neighborhood remains an Old World enclave in the midst of a city that aspires to modernity. With its overwhelmingly ultra-Orthodox population, the streets retain the flavor of an East European shtetl. Life revolves around strict adherence to Jewish law, prayer and the study of Jewish texts. Traditions in dress hark back to Eastern Europe, with black frock coats and black or fur-trimmed hats for men (although there are many other clothing styles, depending on the religious sub-group they belong to), and long-sleeved, modest clothing for women. In some groups, the women wear thick black stockings all year long, even in summer. Married women wear a variety of headcoverings, from wigs to headscarves. The men have beards and some grow long sidecurls, called payot. On the Sabbath, members of some Hasidic dynasties change out of their everyday black and wear distinctive light-color or striped robes.
Neighbourhood regulations
The area is populated exclusively by Orthodox Jews and is the most strictly Orthodox neighborhood in the world. Chassidic groups with a large number of followers in Meah Shearim include Breslov, Slonim and Toldos Aharon. It is also the stronghold of the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta movement. The "Edah HaChareidis", which provides kashrut certification (hechsher), and acts as a Jewish legal court, is also situated in Meah Shearim.
Guidelines
To limit the number of scantily-clad women and keep the neighborhood from being overrun by large groups of tourists, "modesty" posters in Hebrew and English are hung at every entrance. Visitors to Meah Shearim should adhere to the following rules:
- Modest dress for women and girls (knee-length skirts or longer, no plunging necklines or midriff tops, no sleeveless blouses or bare shoulders)
- Tourists should avoid visiting the neighbourhood in large, conspicuous groups.
- Residents should not be photographed or filmed without permission.
- During the Jewish Sabbath (from sunset Friday until it is completely dark on Saturday night), refrain from violating the Sabbath in any way. That means no mobile phones, no cigarettes, no photo or video cameras.
- Avoid wearing blatant Christian symbols or T-shirts with Christian slogans.
Transportation
City buses 1, 3, 10 and 15 drive through Meah Shearim Street, a very narrow street which crosses the neighborhood. Line 2 comes through Shivtei Yisroel Street, on the edge of Meah Shearim. Some city buses that come close to Meah Shearim are lines 4, 11, 19, 23, 35, 36, 39, 40, 56.
Image gallery
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Meah Shearim during Chanukah
References
- Halper, Jeff : Beetween Redemption and Revival: The Jewish Yishuv of Jerusalem in the Nineteenth Century (Westview Press, 1991)ISBN 0-8133-7855-9 (hardcover)