Couple Branded Troublemakers for Sitting Together on Israeli Bus
Couple Rides Bus. Hardly the subject for a news article in a national newspaper, but welcome to the bizarre world of Israel’s Haredi media.
You may recall that there’s controversy in Israel about gender-segregated bus lines in Israel – or in Hebrew mehadrin lines. Earlier this month, the High Court ruled that they are legal, but that segregation must be voluntary – nobody can force passengers to stick to the convention of men at the front and women at the back.
Now these are public lines, and as I reported back in June from aboard a 322, secular passengers use them. However, today’s edition of Hamodia (no link as it’s a leading proponent of the internet-isn’t-kosher lobby) reports the following highly suspicious incident.
A couple that was “identifiably secular” (an interesting statement, were they wearing “We Desecrate Sabbath” or “We Eat Pork” t-shirts?) boarded, sat together, and when informed it was a segregated bus assured {as-per the court ruling) that it was their right to sit where they wanted.
From this incendiary exchange, passengers came to the conclusion that they were obviously dealing with agent provocateurs. “Realizing with whom they were dealing the [young man who informed them it was a segregated bus] made sure to warn all passengers as they boarded the bus not to say anything to this couple, as their intent was to cause trouble.”
All of this was published under the alarmist headline: “Beware Provocateurs on Mehadrin Lines.”
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.