Shaking as she recalled her brutal beating at the hands of Jewish ultra-Orthodox vigilantes, a 28-year-old Jerusalem woman who would only identify herself as M. said she feared for her life.
Some residents say the self-styled "modesty squads" are spreading terror among those seen as straying from the strict moral code demanded of the ultra-Orthodox in the more conservative neighbourhoods of the Holy City.
There life revolves largely around the study of holy texts and a strict dress code that has men sporting black coats and wide-brimmed hats and women covering their heads, arms and legs.
Two weeks ago police arrested two alleged members of a modesty patrol accused of brutally beating M.
31 comments
Fundy Jews acting like fundy Muslims and fundy Christians.
The one obvious thing that makes all fundamentalists similar is that they all think they know what is better for you, and consider themselves so superior that they don't give a damn about what you may think. A second characteristic is that they don't give a damn about the law.
No wonder Jesus wept.
I always wonder why people feel uncomfortable when speaking out against Jewish fundamentalism. Every time we get a quote having to do with a fundie Jew, there's always a dozen or so comments about how fundamentalism of any kind is bad. Shouldn't that go without saying? Or are you guys worried about being branded as anti-Semitic or something?
Granted, fundie Jews tend to keep more to themselves than other religious groups, and most Jewish people are fairly reasonable compared with the other off-shoots of the Abrahamic religion, but I'll never understand why people feel like they have to walk on egg shells when criticizing the actions of someone who happens to be Jewish.
"Fundy Jews acting like fundy Muslims and fundy Christians.
The one obvious thing that makes all fundamentalists similar is that they all think they know what is better for you, and consider themselves so superior that they don't give a damn about what you may think. A second characteristic is that they don't give a damn about the law.
No wonder Jesus wept. "
I'm fairly sure their gods won't 'give a damn' about their begging to enter heaven for not giving a damn about the people they oppressed, either
@Illuminatalie: I agree. This is a case of Fundies Do The Darndest Things, not Fundies Say The Darndest Things.
It is very fundy, though.
There life revolves largely around the study of holy texts and a strict dress code that has men sporting black coats and wide-brimmed hats and women covering their heads, arms and legs.
Who feeds them while they do their important studies and provides their conservative clothing? To paraphrase Pratchett, the simple, pious life for a few priests is generally dependent upon the quite complicated, arduous lives of lots of sinners. I wonder if the farmers they rely on, in a virtual desert country no less, adhere just as strictly to the dress code of all enveloping black coats and hats while they're working the fields.
No matter how obsessively puritan a cult is, sooner or later it always has to quietly sacrifice its principles and make exceptions to its restrictions, in the name of simple practicality, if it wants to continue to exist in the real world.
@John
"I wonder where in scripture does it say men are supposed to dress like 19th century Eastern Europeans?"
You're confusing Jews with Christians. Most Jews (including the Conservative and Orthodox denominations) are actually quite comfortable with the idea that many of their religious practices are traditions with a history behind them, and not necessarily God's commanded practice.
For example, the dress code is a historical tradition which goes back almost 2000 years: they're mourning the fall of the second temple by wearing black clothing.
Furthermore, many Jews are even comfortable with saying that the Bible does not give the entire story of Creation, believing in the ability to reconcile Creation and Evolution (don't ask). Some even suggest that Evolution is the whole story. Orthodox, of course, would never dare deny the truth of Creation.
A fundamentalist Sun-worshipper would demand that everyone be naked.
I believe that there are enough groups like this to hold some type of world championship competition between them. The winners, having beaten everyone else to a pulp, are thrown to the lions.
Mrs. AntiChrist,
Well here, I'll do it....
::Drops pants and moons the fundy Jews::
(______________(________________)
Pucker up and kiss my porcine ass, Jaime!
@ Mrs. Antichrist:
Nah, just that we're not used ot seeing fundie Jew quotes, is all.
There are even a few fundie New-Age quotes around here somewhere, I believe.
EDIT: Just wanted to add a bit about how all fundamentalism is into the oppression of women, and fundie religions differ only in the severity.
"...and women covering their heads, arms and legs."
Even though this picture is for muslims, I think it would apply here too.
image
@Brain_In_A_Jar #731924 2008-Sep-20 09:55 AM
There life revolves largely around the study of holy texts and a strict dress code that has men sporting black coats and wide-brimmed hats and women covering their heads, arms and legs.
Who feeds them while they do their important studies and provides their conservative clothing? To paraphrase Pratchett, the simple, pious life for a few priests is generally dependent upon the quite complicated, arduous lives of lots of sinners. I wonder if the farmers they rely on, in a virtual desert country no less, adhere just as strictly to the dress code of all enveloping black coats and hats while they're working the fields.
No matter how obsessively puritan a cult is, sooner or later it always has to quietly sacrifice its principles and make exceptions to its restrictions, in the name of simple practicality, if it wants to continue to exist in the real world.
=====================================================
Brian, these Ultra-Orthodox guys do NOT work at all.
All they do is study the Talmud (Which means "study" in Hebrew) then criticise everyone for not following the bible.
They are parasites and a waste of space, as are ALL fundies.
Thier dress code comes from thier following of a 16th century rabbi in Eastern Europe. There, temperatures of -40 in the winter is the norm. Unfortunately, no-one told them what the temperature gets to in Israel.
Quote: "#769526 2008-Oct-17 10:24 AM
two members? TWO members?!?!?!
religion holding itself above the law yet again I see."
That is the make-up of the Knesset. 120 seats up for election but the National Religious Party AUTOMATICALLY has 2 seats.
Elections in Israel are by proportional representation, which means there is never a clear majority. Thus a load of horse-trading is the order of the day ending up with a 59-59 split, with the NRP taking no sides - guess who runs the country?
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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