Make way for the Jewish ladies.!

[Ibtisam]

Women scurrying through the backstreets of a Middle Eastern city, the curves of their bodies covered in up to 10 layers of thick cloth and only their eyes visible to the outside world.

 

But these women are not Muslims choosing to wrap themselves in full length niqabs or burqas, these are a small group of ultra-Orthodox Jewish women in Israel who have taken to wearing quite possibly one of the most austere forms of "Jewish hijab" available.

 

Modesty among some strictly Orthodox women can now mean wearing 10 skirts and seven robes. By Michal Levertov in Tel Aviv

 

A new ultra-modest fashion among some strictly Orthodox Israelis, in which women wear several layers of skirts, robes, scarves and veils and avoid talking to men other than their husbands, is creating a storm of controversy among the country's religious communities.

 

The unofficial leader of the trend, often practised in defiance of husbands and in the face of rabbinical reluctance, is Bruria Keren, who lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh, an strictly Orthodox neighbourhood south-west of Jerusalem .

 

In a rare interview, Mrs Keren recently told the Ma'ariv newspaper: "The Holy Mothers and the women of Jerusalem used to wrap their bodies and to hide their faces. It is even written in the Torah that Tamar did not see the face of Judah since she was covered.

 

"The Torah does not change. The body should be concealed so its shape won't be seen. The face and the body-shape of a woman might be an obstacle to men. The more layers of clothes, the women's modesty is higher regarded."

 

Rebbetzin Keren, a mother-of-ten and a practitioner of alternative medicine, devotes much of her time to silence and prayer, but is also a charismatic preacher to her growing flock.

 

Her outfit consists of 10 thick skirts, seven long robes, five kerchiefs knotted at the chin, three knotted at the back of the head, and her face hidden behind a knitted linen veil.

 

The whole costume is covered head-to-toe by several thin shawls. According to Maariv, Rebbetzin Keren's community consists of about 50 followers in Beit Shemesh, 70 in Jerusalem , and dozens more in Safed and in the Orthodox settlements of Beitar Illit and Elad.

 

But such extreme devotion does not appeal to the Orthodox establishment, in spite of its own support for tzniut, or modesty.

 

According to the Ha'aretz newspaper, the Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem forced a couple to a divorce — even though the husband appealed for a matrimonial reconciliation — because the woman was totally covered by a veil. They also awarded custody to the husband, in spite of his wife's complaints of violence, and issued a warrant for a psychiatric examination for her.

 

One of Mrs Keren's closest disciples, a convert to Judaism known only as Anne, told Ma'ariv she hopes "that men will demand that their wives would wear the robes and the veil. That in a few years all the men in the Orthodox public would discover the sweetness of the clothes' layers and the modesty that is behind the veil."

 

The women apparently do not feel any solidarity with their Muslim counterparts.

 

Another follower interviewed by the newspaper, Miriam, 32, said: "People are asking: 'Who is it? A Muslim? An Arab?' But there are people in the Orthodox public who insult us, and that hurts us most. Only an Orthodox person knows what an insult it is for a woman to be told that she's a Christian or an Arab."

 

Professor Tamar Elor, a scholar of Charedi society at Jerusalem 's Hebrew University , told the JC that there was a strong element of feminine defiance in the phenomenon.

 

"The decision over the modesty issue, and obsessive discussion about the body, was all in the hands of the rabbis.

 

"And here, the women took over it and brought it to the edge, just like a former trend in which women gave birth to more children than their spouse wanted.

 

"It's as if they say, 'If that's my expertise — I'll excel at it'. Thus, they move the power to their own hands".

 

-----------

After reading couple of articles in JC News, I found few interesting points there.

1- This is a religious movement leading by a woman.

2- Apparently, these ladies have many children. Again, according to the same articles, it seems it is one of their holy goals.

3- They cover themselves secure and avoid direct contact with other men.

4- What I found ironic is that many people of their greater communities (Orthodox and moderate Jewish) somehow look down to them. Even in extreme cases consider them as mentally extremely disturb.

 

However, it seems to me that these ladies are making a social/political statement i.e. a protestation against their larger community concept of womanhood. Unfortunately, it maybe true, many men by instinct or whatever reason, in depth of their mind consider woman as a commodity, someone that should be kept hidden at home doing the housework, bringing up and taking care of children, etc.

[Chimera]

It's an Achaemenid tradition picked up by the Seleucids then passed on to the Parthians and Byzantines all the way to the Sassanids and eventually the Muslims

[hodman]

Ironic that she finds it insulting to be referred to as a Muslim or Christian. I wonder how uncomfortable it must be to be under all those garments. Muslim women are called extremists when they wear the Hijab i wonder what the term is to describe these ladies.

[Geel_jire]

^ maybe the style of the specific hijaab being used can be traced to cultural sources. like Somali women who wear the umbrella style hijaab, and the Abaya worn by some arab muslim women.

 

but the idea of covering up for modesty is religious not cultural, unless they arabs before the prophet's time used to wear the hijaab.

[Chimera]

^ see Chador and it's ancient History. The Ghassanid and Lakhmid Arabs were vassals/clients of the Sassanids so it would make sense if they adopted some of their customs.

[chubacka]

even if ppl before Islam wore hijab, it does not mean that hijab is not sanctioned in the quran and sunnah does it?

 

As for these women I say good luck to them, but really they should just wear a burka, like the afghanstanies (mayb not blue) instead of ten skirts and so many other pieces of clothing.

 

would love to see a picture...

[Faynuus]

7 skirts aa? shiir u naf adakaa duulku.

[Buuxo]

Her outfit consists of 10 thick skirts, seven long robes, five kerchiefs knotted at the chin, three knotted at the back of the head, and her face hidden behind a knitted linen veil.

Bisinka ,Kuwaan mindha qax bay diyaar iskaga dhigaayan .

[Blessed]

Come on sisters. We know better than to bash other peoples religious dress.

 

 

Ibtisaam,

 

Don't you think the attitude they get from the wider community is in a sense compareable to that niqaabis get in the Muslim community?

 

 

In response to Geeljires query..

 

Both the Bible and the Torah speak of a form of hijaab which should come as no suprise as all three religions have the same origins.

 

I couldn't immediately tell the differencs between Muslim and Christian women in the Syrian villages that I've visited. They were all covered up but the old christian ladies wore black scarves which were tied a little differently to the Muslims and the Syrian top and trouser.

 

Whereas the Muslim ladies wore abaya or galabiya with khimaar.

 

Even the pagan women of the Prophets (saw) dressed modestly (in comparision to todays standrads). They wore long dresses and a sort of head covering that didn't fully cover all of their hair or necks. The Quran commanded the Muslim women to take it further and to cover all of their body and to draw their veils over their bossoms.. so that way only the hands and face are shown.

[NGONGE]

Ibti,

Off topic but you may enjoy this:

 

Dear Sir,

 

I cannot do as you wish. I am unable to overcome my aversion to burdening the public with my name, and even the present critical time does not seem to me to warrant it. Whoever wants to influence the masses must give them something rousing and inflammatory and my sober judgement of Zionism does not permit this. I certainly sympathise with its goals, am proud of our University in Jerusalem and am delighted with our settlement's prosperity. But, on the other hand, I do not think that Palestine could ever become a Jewish state, nor that the Christian and Islamic worlds would ever be prepared to have their holy places under Jewish care. It would have seemed more sensible to me to establish a Jewish homeland on a less historically-burdened land. But I know that such a rational viewpoint would never have gained the enthusiasm of the masses and the financial support of the wealthy. I concede with sorrow that the baseless fanaticism of our people is in part to be blamed for the awakening of Arab distrust. I can raise no sympathy at all for the misdirected piety which transforms a piece of a Herodian wall into a national relic, thereby offending the feelings of the natives.

 

Now judge for yourself whether I, with such a critical point of view, am the right person to come forward as the solace of a people deluded by unjustified hope.

 

Your obediant servant,

 

Freud

 

Source

[Ibtisam]

^^NGonge I think you showed me this before. lol Thanks though, again.

 

Blessed:

It seems a bit more extreme reaction that niqabies get within the general Muslim community. I agree with not being able to tell the difference when you visit historical religious places in the Middle East. As Adam said, traditions in transition.

 

Blessed everyone was covered compared to now days.

 

I respect them more than the dilated/washedout Christians/ Jews at least these ladies are trying to follow what the religion commanded rather than constantly changing and adapting to suit their needs. I admire their dedication and fundamentalism.

[NGONGE]

^^ No I did not. This is the first time I've ever posted it on here.

[Ibtisam]

I'm sure you did in one of my other threads...if it was not you, must have been someone else. :confused: Can't think of who though... I'm sure it was you.

[Jacaylbaro]

Originally posted by Faynuus:

7 skirts aa? shiir u naf adakaa duulku.

looooooooooooooooool ,