Welcome to the Sheikh Jarrah Yeshivah! Huh?

כ' לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ד

JPost: Construction of controversial yeshiva approved in Sheikh Jarrah
Daniel K. Eisenbud, February 12, 2014

Nine-story campus wins approval in 4 to 3 vote by J'lem Planning and Building Committee; Municipality: Decision not a provocation, years away from being built. By a narrow margin, the Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee on Wednesday approved the construction of a yeshiva campus in the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, beyond the Green Line.

MK Dr. Meir Margalit
(Meretz)

The Glassman campus, as the 10,000 sq.m. complex is known, is set to include 12 floors and be built on a vacant lot adjacent to the yeshiva’s current Ohr Somayach campus on Shimon Hatzadik Street. It will include dormitories and classrooms.

Although the land is owned by the Israel Lands Authority, the Jerusalem Planning Department and numerous city council members have vocally opposed the construction, repeatedly attempting to postpone the vote in consideration of peace negotiations.

Noting the sensitivity of Jewish settlement in Sheikh Jarrah, Dr. Meir Margalit (Meretz), who heads the east Jerusalem Portfolio, summarily dismissed the decision to build another yeshiva there as a “clear provocation” against the neighborhood’s Palestinian residents.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
I am confused. Ohr Somayach is located on the west side of Road No. 1. Ma'aloth Dafnah and Arzei Birah are the names of the neighborhoods.

This is a "clear provocation?" How so?

The most dangerous element of this picture: A Haredi boy holding up the Zionist flag.
SSSHHH! Don't tell anyone!

Someone needs to have a geography lesson and/or be clearer in what he is trying to communicate to us here.

On the other side of Road No. 1, part of the mythical Green Line, is the neighborhood of Shimon HaTzadiq, named for the great Hakham (Sage) who is buried there. The so-called "Sheikh Jarrah" neighbor was always considered, by the Arabs, to be north of this area up to the Mt. Scopus Campus of the Hebrew University, which found itself "on the other side," after the smoke cleared from Israel's War of Independence in 1948/תש"ח.

In other words, the neighborhood Arabs and Leftists call Sheikh Jarrah is not even where the Leftists think it is, not to mention the Arabs themselves, trying to keep up with the Pallywood script changes.

Let us let the reporter of this article off the hook for the moment, and assume for the sake of argument, that the proposed building is actually on the east side of Road No. 1.

"Sensitivity of Jewish settlement?" Huh?

These homes are JEWISH homes, reclaimed from Arab squatters who have living in them rent-free since as long ago as 1948/תש"ח, Israel's War of Independence, fought against, none other than... Arabs.

feeding time...

Should the Jews give up on reclaiming the property stolen from them by the Nazis? By the Iraqi

Furthermore, I do not hear anyone complaining about the provocation of Hebrew University's presence in so-called "East Jerusalem." Maybe that's because it is the academic jewel of Israel, and Jerusalem's brainwashing indoctrination and distribution center for Left-Wing/assimilationist propaganda.

The following is a video of the regular tour of the Shimon HaTzadiq neighbor given by Yehonathan "Yoni" Yosef, son of Rabbi Ya'aqov Yosef ztz"l, and grandson of the Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l.

During this tour, Yoni recounts the history of the neighborhood, and its extensive Jewish roots and character. When his grandfather was a young man, he was a (ba'al qeriah (Torah reader) for this neighborhood, and remembered quite well the Jewish residents, whose families had lived there for generations.

סיור מודרך בשכונת שמעון הצדיק - לשעבר שייח ג'ראח

Did you notice the make-up of the tour group he was leading? Diverse, and that means dangerous. Jewish unity is simply too much for the Erev Rav controlled government to deal with.

Let's give them more of it, while we are recounting the true, Jewish history of our Homeland.

Rabbi Ya'aqov Yosef, ztz"l

מוצש"ק פר' תזריע-מצורע תשע"ג

Erev Shabbath, the neshamah of HaRav HaGa'on Ya'aqov Hai ben HaRav Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l, passed into the next world, and he was laid to rest in Jerusalem.

About a year and half ago, a tumor was found in the rav's pancreas, and, in spite of treatment, it spread throughout his body.  (from Kikar Shabbat)

Rav Ya'aqov Hai was the rav of the Jerusalem neighborhood Giv'ath Moshe. He was a renowned poseq, unafraid to defend the Torah and speak the truth, even if that meant going up against his own father, Rav Ovadiah, may he and his family be comforted in their time of sorrow, proclaiming that it is forbidden to give up pieces of the Land of Israel. The father and son rabbis, B"H, have since made shalom between them.

Rav Ya'aqov Hai was also unafraid to go up against popular rabbis, unabashed in their distortions of the Torah, and in their leading Jews down the path of sin. Rav Ya'aqov Hai refused to remain silent, even in the face of the potential consequences.

Rav Ya'aqov Hai's Torah leadership will be sadly missed.

Pictured below are three generations of the Yosef family in happier times, almost two years ago.

R' Ovadiah, Yehonatan, R' Ya'aqov Hai, ztz"l
at Yehonatan's engagement

In the following video, you can see one of the ways in which Rav Ya'aqov Hai's children honor him, and will continue to honor his memory. Here his son Yehonatan gives a guided tour of the reclaimed Jerusalem neighborhood of Shimon HaTzadiq. Notice the mixed group of Haredi, Religious Zionist, and Secular participants. Yehonatan has already been establishing himself as a leader in the direction of Jewish unity.

סיור מודרך בשכונת שמעון הצדיק - לשעבר שייח ג'ראח

Avodah Zarah Parade 5773 Wrap-Up!

ראש חודש השמיני תשע"ג

I didn't feel so well on the Thursday during Hol HaMo'ed Sukkoth, so I didn't end up going to a barbecue at a friend's in the [re-claimed Jewish] Shimon HaTzadiq Neighborhood.

Too bad, too, because I could have prayed Tefillath Minhah from the amud, which would have been a tiqqun for the fiasco last year, when I tried to do the same.  Last year, someone kept interrupting my hazarah, accusing me of "davening the wrong nusah."  I stopped after negotiating all of his interruptions, and finally making it through to the end of the first berakhah. I then gestured to this guy to take over, as a walked to the back of the yard where we were praying.

Later on, I set him straight about how there is ACTUALLY more than one nusah in the universe.  He realized his mistake, felt bad about it, and apologized, and ready to apologize to everyone present, until I stopped him from doing so.

I can forgive ignorance quite easily, when the offending party is willing to amend his knowledge.

But, since I did not go to the barbecue/Se'udath Hol HaMo'ed this year, I did not have the opportunity, nor merit, to pray in an area being re-claimed by its Jewish home owners, who temporarily lost access to their homes in 1948.  Then, of course, after reclaiming access to a good portion of our heritage in 1967, there was still the issue of Arab squatters.  That issue has turned out to be more difficult to deal with than the Jordanian, Egyptian, and Syrian armies put together.

But, I digress...

I spent that day at home instead.  Yet, I wanted to get outside a bit, so I walked over to Shalom Fallafel on Betzalel Street to buy a couple of containers of the best hilbeh I've ever had, besides homemade.  Unfortunately, it was closed.

On the way there, I had no choice but to pass by Jerusalem's annual Avodah Zarah Parade, known to most as the "Jerusalem March."

I had successfully blocked this annual embarrassment to Am Yisra'el, Eretz Yisrael, the Torah. I had thought about getting out of town, like to the beach.  But, like I said, I wasn't feeling very well.  I knew that I could not spend too much time in the area, as I knew that I incredibly upset an aggravated, and possibly even arrested.

Security was out in force, including a helicopter, courtesy of OUR TAX SHEQQELS, thank you very much, and all for the privilege of receiving a kiss from Esau's descendants.

Yeah, I know, I know...  Was I just running  away from the problem to put my head in the sand until it was over?   I don't know about that.  I believe that at this juncture, I can do more with a keyboard than with shouting and a picket sign.  Time and time again, we have learned than protests do absolutely nothing in Israel to change anything,...except, of course, those protests secretly set up by the Israeli government itself.

But, yet again, I digress...

On my way to Shalom Fallafel and back another way, I was able to mention to some (in Hebrew) what this parade was all about.   One of those few was a friend of mine.  I [nicely] asked him why he was watching the Avodah Zarah Parade, and showing his support.

The friend he was with grabbed his arm, and tried to get him to go.  Instead this friend of mine wanted to know what I meant.  I explained the problems with the Parade and its participants.  He didn't seem to happy with my "insulting" of "friends of Israel," so much so that he actually smacked me, albeit not very hard.

My eyes popped out of my skull.  I asked him that he would strike a fellow Jew for the sake of those, whose beliefs and practices pollute the Land.  That seemed to go over his head.  So, I kept it plain and simple.  I told him that he was not my friend, and I walked away.

Before anyway starts up about Ahduth Yisra'el (Jewish Unity) and Hava'ath Shalom bein Adam leHavero, (making peace between individuals) I will remind you that there are limits to these concepts.  There are limits in Judaism.

Believing what you want about a group of people, you are being blinded by smiles and money (Read: co-dependence and bribes), doesn't make the halakhoth (Jewish Laws - and there are many of them related to this subject!) go away.

Top Ten Words and Phrases of תשע"א/5771

Erev Shabbath Qodesh Parashath No'ah 5772

The compiling of the long-awaited, and VERY tardy, Top Ten Words And Phrase of תשע"א/5771 has finally been completed.

The annual list of Esser Agaroth's Top Ten Words And Phrases has been around since תשס"ד/5764. The top Ten Words List includes words which have been overused, underused, or significant to the universe in one way or another. The links below indicate previous posts which have addressed, or have attempted to address, the issue. Those words which are not linked? Stay tuned for some good ol' fashioned smacking of those who need to be smacked from Esser Agaroth during תשע"ב/5772! (click the link above for past years' lists)

This year's list is dedicated to Efraim HaKohen in Jerusalem. Please let him know.

10. Coffee - Self-explanatory.

9. Rabbi – Many of you know that I try to stay far away from "rabbis," and stay close to Hakhamim. Yes, there is most certainly a difference! I especially try to stay far away from those calling themselves "rabbis" who have allowed themselves to be influenced by those from whom they have received salaries or donations (eg. The State, Government of Norway, Christians, etc.).

8. Nakba/Intifada – These words do not even deserve their own entry. These contrivances from the Pseudostians (Honorable Mention goes to Batya @ Shiloh Musings for the addition of this word to our vocabulary!), under the manipulative hands of the European "High Left," must be from ejected from our vocabulary.

7. The State – Doesn't that sound like the title of a good ol' fashioned dystopian novel? Well, sometimes living in Israel can feel that way. Check out what fellow blogger Ariel at The Torah Revolution thinks about The State, keeping in mind that he believes that Jews must come back home to the Land of Israel to re-settle it, unlike Neturei Karta types.

6. צדק חברתי/Social Justice – How this concept has been expressed, both recently in Israel, and years ago in the U. S. is neither "social" nor "justice." Discuss amongst yourselves.

5. Shimon HaTzadiq - 'Nuff said.

4. Christian Friends - The most effective way for me to express my feelings on this phrase would be in the traditional fashion of the San Fernando Valley, in the 1980's: "Like, gag with a spoon!"

3. 1,000's of Arab Terrorists - Yeah! Let's hear it for the Arabs Terrorists יש"ו! (eyes rolling) May they all get what they really deserve! (May their names and memories be blotted out!)

2. רכבת קלה/Light Rail – As a Jerusalemite, and as a Jerusalemite who benefits a great deal from our new light rail system, the…had to be on this year's list! Stay tuned for Esser Agaroth on the…

1. Gil'ad Shalit – How could I not put Gil'ad in the No. 1 spot?

Well, that's a wrap for 5771!

Have a great 5772, and make sure to pay attention to those catchy words and phrases!

Swedish Anarchists Deface Sukkah In Shimon Hatzaddik

27 of the Seventh Month 5772

Remember the sukkah I visited for a barbecue in the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood of Jerusalem?

That sukkah was vandalized.

From the Kalashnokover Rebbe...

Swedish anarchists defaced the Sukkah in Shimon Hatzaddik and were arrested by Police - אנרכיסטים שווידים חללו את הסוכה בשכונת שמעון הצדיק ונעצרו ע''י המשטרה

Personally, I agree that we should "stop the occupation."

אני מסכים - די לכיבוש

Stop the Arab occupation of Jewish houses!

די לכיבוש הערבי!

Stop the Arab occupation of the Land with gave to Ya'aqov (Jews), and not to Yishma'el (Arabs), and certainly not to Esau (Euro. Left AND Right-wing Christians).

To deny this, is to deny the very validity of the Torah. None of this... "Well, it depends on what you mean by Torah." crap. "Torah" means both Written AND Oral Torah, sans denial and distortions.

As politically-incorrect as that sounds, limiting the Land to a specific people, I refuse to allow the truth to be silenced.

Saudia Arabia does it.

The Palestinian Authority will no doubt do it, when some Jews decide to stick around irregardless of what the Israeli Government decides or does not decide.

Believe you me. Some of them us WILL stick around.

But, in the eyes of the so called "International Community," that's OK. After all, we are only Jews, and who the hell are we to believe in the Torah, and who the hell are we to dare expect to possess a tiny strip of Land, and call it home?!

And our brethren on the Left have this insane idea that even if we wanted to slice and dice the Land of Israel, that we could dish it out to not non-Jews.

We can't. It's not ours to give away!

Didn't anyone take the opportunity to read Rash"i's first comments on the Torah last week?

We do what we our supposed to do, follow the Torah, fight for the Land (among other things), and then HaShem decides which pieces fall into which hands, just like in תשכ"ז/1967, תש"ח/1948, and תשל"א/1973.

Even in תש"נ/1948, we made it all the way to the Litani River in what is now Lebanon, which according to many authorities is the northern border of the territories of Asher and Naftali.

Then in typical Erev Rav fashion, we handed it over to Arabs, just like the Sinai, the Temple Mount, Yericho, Hevron, Ramallah, Azza, etc.

I refuse to allow the truth to be distorted, by the left OR the right.

The response to the vandalism in the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood appeared to be the same. They expressed it by "fixing" the graffiti.

Sukkoth In The Shimon HaTzadiq Neighborhood

Motza'ei Shabbath Qodesh Parashath Bereishith 5772

During Hol HaMo'ed Sukkoth, I went to a barbecue at a friend's place in the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood. The Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood is located on the eastern side of Highway 1 in Jerusalem.

It was a lot fun, meeting old friends and new, as well as seeing the dog I helped raise, when I lived in K'far Tapu'ah (see photo below). Hot dogs, Kabob, and chicken were on the menu, along with singing and Torah in the sukkah.



During tefillath minhah, as the repetition of prayer began, Arab children came over to peak onto the property, and started making noise. Their mother came over, and joined in. Other Arabs began screaming, including very unpleasant things about God, surprisingly.

A few of us who had already prayed went out to investigate, and discovered several Norwegian Leftists inciting the Arabs against us. Esau and Yishma'el working together; Esau manipulating wild and idiotic Yishma'el, actually.

Women stood in front of the entrance to the property, knowing full well that it is forbidden for Jewish men to pray in the presence of women, especially how these women were dressed. One even trespassed on to the property, sat in back of our sukkah, texting to her heart's content, throughout the entire evening. We just ignored her, as she ended up sitting within the [supposed] property of one of the Arab neighbors.

The Norwegian Leftists' complaint was that we Jews were occupying "Palestinian" lands.

This demonstrated how truly ignorant AND Jew-hating these Europeans (Esau) are. Jewish have simply been reclaiming property which they had lost during the Israeli War of Independence.

Who is "occupying" whose land and homes???

After the fall of Sadam Hussein in Iraq, Iraqi citizens filed for reclamation of lost property, which had been confiscated or lost, due to the need to run for their lives. Doesn't anyone remember how Jews were singled out, and denied these rights? Did any Jews have Iraqi citizenship restored or property returned? For certain, they did not receive the minority status granted to other ethnic groups in Iraq. Yet, Jews have had a presence in Iraq for over 2,000 years.

Esau and Yishma'el treat us the same way here in our own homeland, while we continue to let them, and everyone else, to step all over us.

Irregardless of the light drama which played out, I had a nice time, and hope to go back sometime. The irony is that this neighborhood even has its own light rail station. As "occupations" go (eyes rolling), this one has a tremendous amount of mainstream support.

Now that I think about it, I wonder why we did not "release the hounds." Besides Shiksa, there was one other Belgian Shepherd available for Arab and Leftist chasing duty. I guess that even "right-wing fanatics" (eyes rolling) know when to choose their our shots. Go figure....

*********

Here is a video (Hebrew) of Yehonatan "Yoni" Yosef giving a guided tour through the neighborhood, lecturing on the rich history of this neighborhood. His grandfather, former Chief Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef celebrated becoming bar-mitzvah in this neighborhood, and was the ba'al qore' (Torah reader) there for several years.

The Jewish presence and history of this neighborhood begins thousands of years ago, and only had a short break from 1949 to 1967, when the armistice line was set, separating Jews from from there homes there.

The compositions of his tour groups are usually more mixed, Haredi, Religious Zionist, and and secular, all interested in the history and current activity of the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood.

סיור מודרך בשכונת שמעון הצדיק - לשעבר שייח ג'ראח


Below are some articles covering the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood, interspersed with my comments in blue italics.




JPost.com: The Guard Dogs Of East Jerusalem

Benjamin Spier, January 27, 2011

Meet Shiksa, one of dozens of canines sent to guard in West Bank settlements, dangerous neighborhoods.

In an east Jerusalem neighborhood where tensions between Arabs and Jews run high, sometimes a dog is needed to keep the peace.

Yaakov Fauci lives with his Belgian Shepard 'Shiksa' in one of the few Jewish houses of an almost entirely Arab neighborhood.

Israel’s Best Friend sends dogs like Shiksa to settlements in the West Bank and to Jewish homes in dangerous neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

YNET: 13 Jewish Homes Approved In Sheikh Jarrah

Construction plans drawn up 'with sole aim of creating trouble,' says Meretz councilman, but head of Israel Land Fund argues, 'Arabs should thank Jews for letting them stay free of charge on land that belongs to them'

Ronen Medzini, February 7, 2011

Jerusalem Municipality approved 13 new housing units for Jews in Sheikh Jarrah on Monday, a move expected to further exacerbate tension in the Arab neighborhood.

The local planning and construction committee approved two separate plans for buildings to be erected near the tomb of Shimon Hatzadik.

The approval provides a recommendation for the Interior Ministry, which will decide whether to give the final green light.

Sheikh Jarrah has become a focal point of conflict between left-wing activists and Arab residents, and the dozens of Jews who reside there in 10 different houses.

(What Arabs call "Sheikh Jarrah" is actually farther north. What Arabs call "Wadi Joz" is to the east.)

The latter moved in on a court order which evicted the Arab residents from their homes. Aside from the approved 13, sources in the municipality said plans were in the works for hundreds of new homes.

"I imagine that within 5-10 years some 200 homes for Jews will be built in this area," Arieh King, the chairman of the Israel Land Fund, told Ynet.

"These are lands that belonged to Jews before the establishment of the state, and after 63 years they have been returned to the heirs. The Arabs that lived here illegally throughout these years should thank the Jews who let them stay for free, and now it's time for the Jews to actualize their rights to this place."

The municipality's Likud representative, Attorney Elisha Peleg, said anyone who rejected Jews' rights to build in east Jerusalem was engaging in discrimination.

"I hope as many Jewish neighborhoods as possible are built in east Jerusalem," he told Ynet, adding that the plans were drawn up by private companies and have nothing to do with the state.

"The lots are being built on illegally and invaded by Arabs right now and in the future, when we receive building permits, they will be asked to leave."

But Meretz Councilman Yosef (Pepe) Alalo said the new plans were destroying the status-quo. "Aside from the fact that the plans arrived insufficiently prepared, they are certainly improper and are entirely aimed at causing trouble," he said.

(Since when is returning property to its rightful owners "improper" and "aimed at causing trouble?")

"The plans were made in order to harm agreements by which Palestinian neighborhoods will be transferred to the future state of Palestine while Jewish neighborhoods remain in Israel. These plans destroy our final hope and have no regard for the fact that the families living in the homes will be thrown out onto the street."

(Well, I guess they should of thought about that, before squatting on Jewish property without permission, huh?)

Jerusalem Municipality stated in response that the plans were private and therefore the construction committee was charged only with checking the aspects related to technical planning, not the religion or nationality of the planners.

What Do You Get When You Punch A Jew?

9 of the Twelfth Month (Beth) 5771

A Jew gets punched in the face in the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood.

Twenty-three sets of Arab tires get slashed.

Gee. I wonder if any more Jews will get punched in the face in this neighborhood in the immediate future.

Doubt it.

Leftist Incitement Continues In Religious Jewish Neighborhoods

4 of the Eleventh Month 5771

Leftist incitement continues in Jewish, Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood of Jerusalem.

I saw a friend of mine on Shabbath. He is a resident of the Shimon HaTzadiq neighborhood. He reported that last Friday, minutes before sheqi'ath hahamah (sunset), three Leftist agitators convinced an Arab boy to commit an act of vandalism against one of the buildings in the neighborhood, by ripping down an Israeli flag hung from a window by the building's residents.

These leftists have done their homework, and know full well that the religious residents of the neighborhood are powerless, or at least very limited in what they can do in the form of a response during Shabbath.

1. Torah observant Jews will not contact the police, unless it is necessary to save a life.

2. They will not risk going after a minor over such a small thing, which would invariably lead to the arrest of Jews, and portrayal of the Arab minor as a victim.

3. Even if they succeed in retrieving the flag, the would not return it to its proper place, during Shabbath.

Apparently these leftists think that it is quite alright that Arabs have been squatting in Jewish homes since the 1940's, rent free.

When justice is served, and Jews are able to reclaim their stolen homes, the Leftists have a problem with that.

Furthermore, the above strategy targeting Torah-observant Jews is parallel to the anti-Torah strategy employed by Leftists in Yehudah & Shomron.

Before the last Shemitah (Land Sabbatical) year (תשס"ח/2007-2008), Leftists ripped out newly planted trees, and encouraged Arabs to do the same, knowing full well that the Torah-observant residents would not violate Torah law by replanting them after Rosh HaShannah, 2007, the beginning of the Shemitah.

Yet, these same Leftists try to accuse the residents of destroying trees in a manner which is also forbidden under Torah Law, during ANY year.

Truly a nasty strategy which demonstrates great hatred towards HaShem's Torah, and toward the Jews who follow it.

How To Reclaim Jewish Property

27 of the Fourth Month 5769

Reclaiming Jewish Property in Jerusalem
Hillel Fendel 27 Tammuz 5769/July 19, 2009

(IsraelNN.com) With the Obama administration turning the corkscrews upon Israeli sovereignty in its capital, the spotlight focuses once again on the growing Jewish presence in neighborhoods such as Shimon HaTzaddik. Arab squatters face eviction this week.

The U.S. State Department has made an unprecedented demand upon its ally Israel to stop lawful construction in its capital – specifically, at a property owned by activist Dr. Irving Moskowitz in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The municipal housing plan calls for the site of the Shepherd Hotel to become a 20-unit apartment complex. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other government ministers have categorically rebuffed the American ultimatum, as did Ambassador Michael Oren when he was called to the State Department to hear the U.S. demand.

Arabs in Shimon HaTzaddik Face Eviction
Just below the hotel, seven Jewish families and an all-day Torah-study program, known as a Kollel, are trying to renew the old Jewish neighborhood of Shimon HaTzaddik. Several Arab families that have squatted on the property since Jordan took control of eastern Jerusalem in 1948 continue to refuse to leave – and face possible eviction this week.

For those of you unfamiliar with Jerusalem geography, the Shimon HaTzadiq neighbor is just on the other side of Kvish (Road) No. 1 from the Ma'aloth Dafnah and Shmu'el HaNavi neighborhoods, and only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Me'ah She'arim, Beis Yisroel, and Morasha (Musrara) neighborhoods.

Let's put some of that left over Haredi anger and energy to good use.

Nah. Never happen. No one wants to get together on this, although I am sure that Land of Israel activists might welcome it.

I guess we'll have to rely on the continued efforts of the bored "Shabbabniqim" from the above mentioned neighborhoods, who often go out tho protect the grave sites in the area from Yishma'eli vandalism.

Do not underestimate this group of bored and searching, sometimes disgruntled, Haredi youth.

An Accidental Witness

25 of the Fourth Month 5769

Coming back from French Hill (Please don't ask what I was doing in French Hill) toward Jerusalem's "Center of Town," friends of mine and I saw that Kvish (Road) No. 1 was blocked from Shimon HaTzadiq St. to as far as we could see south. Why? I have no idea why that would be a strategic move on the part of police.

We had to make right on . I was hoping that any rioting would be contained to the Kikar Shabbos area. My friend who was driving asked which way to go, left on Shmu'el HaNavi St. or straight on Yehezkel, which would have taken us straight to Kikar Shabbos.

He is apparentally not very good with geography. I told him to make the left, figuring we would avoid the epicenter of the rioting. Why the police were letting people through on Yehezkel, I do not know.

After some trafic and some navigation around additional vehicular, funny business, we were making progress down Shmu'el HaNavi St. On the way, I witnessed Yassa"mnikim (Israeli riot police) lined up against a building, ready and waiting, with a troop of IDF soldiers in formation across the street.

One of the Yassa"mnikim began kicking blindly at haredi passersby for no apparent reason, until his commander ran over to stop him.

The Me'ah She'arim and Beis Yisroel neighborhoods looked as if they were about to go under seige.

My suspicions were supported, as we made our way to Shivtei Yisroel St. Instead of making the usual right, we were forced back around toward Kvish (Road) No. 1. Shivtei Yisroel St. was blocked off by police officers, with billy clubs at their sides, and lit torches on the ground. They meant business.

Well, we made it out of there, but as of 11:30 PM, helicopters could still be heard circling the Me'ah Shearim, Beis Yisroel, and Bukharim neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

I successfully avoided the riots by anticipating the bus route detours, getting to where I was going on time, earlier that evening. But getting a ride back, which I thought would be faster, brought me straight into them.