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Sep 7, 2016
no tall buildings in Haredi Jerusalem
Haredi rabbonim of Harei neighborhoods of Jerusalem had a meeting in which they discussed issues affecting the community, specifically the issue of the housing crisis.
According to Behadrei, the result of the meeting was that despite the severe shortage of available housing in the Haredi community, the rabbonim have instructed the Haredi representatives in office to oppose construction of tall buildings.
Two reasons are mentioned for opposing tall buildings:
1. it is not appropriate for the Haredi lifestyle. They often do not rely on "Shabbos elevators". Often such buildings do not or cannot include sukka porches. etc
2. Such buildings might be an attraction for more modern families to move in (i.e because they do rely on "Shabbos elevators").
The first issue is perfectly reasonable, in my opinion. If tall buildings are not appropriate for the Haredi community, buildings in Haredi areas should not be constructed in that fashion.
The second issue bothers me. It does not bother me directly, but in a more roundabout way. I get that they want to keep their neighborhoods with like-minded people, and that makes sense to me (even if I don't necessarily agree).
However, when we see the Haredi community moving into secular neighborhoods and then making changes due to their presence, and fighting against any opposition to them, with what right do they have to turn around and say we don't want anyone different from us in our own neighborhoods, while at the same time saying you have to accept us in your neighborhoods despite our differences?
The second claim is specious at best, and hypocritical at worst.
They talk about a demarcation line, north of which would be declared Haredi neighborhoods, and south of which would not be. So in other words, north of which only Haredim can buy homes in, south of which only secular can buy homes in, until the Haredim also want to.
According to Behadrei, the result of the meeting was that despite the severe shortage of available housing in the Haredi community, the rabbonim have instructed the Haredi representatives in office to oppose construction of tall buildings.
Two reasons are mentioned for opposing tall buildings:
1. it is not appropriate for the Haredi lifestyle. They often do not rely on "Shabbos elevators". Often such buildings do not or cannot include sukka porches. etc
2. Such buildings might be an attraction for more modern families to move in (i.e because they do rely on "Shabbos elevators").
The first issue is perfectly reasonable, in my opinion. If tall buildings are not appropriate for the Haredi community, buildings in Haredi areas should not be constructed in that fashion.
The second issue bothers me. It does not bother me directly, but in a more roundabout way. I get that they want to keep their neighborhoods with like-minded people, and that makes sense to me (even if I don't necessarily agree).
However, when we see the Haredi community moving into secular neighborhoods and then making changes due to their presence, and fighting against any opposition to them, with what right do they have to turn around and say we don't want anyone different from us in our own neighborhoods, while at the same time saying you have to accept us in your neighborhoods despite our differences?
The second claim is specious at best, and hypocritical at worst.
They talk about a demarcation line, north of which would be declared Haredi neighborhoods, and south of which would not be. So in other words, north of which only Haredim can buy homes in, south of which only secular can buy homes in, until the Haredim also want to.
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Well said, except for one thing.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote: "The second claim is specious at best, and hypocritical at worst."
Of course it's hypocritical. But that's actually not the worst. The worst is the confirmation that their long-term plans are to continue self-separation from everything and everyone non-Chareidi until they become the majority. And then...
Considering how many Charedim moved into RBS G, which is full of 8-story apartment buildings, I don't know that it would matter much. None of the Charedim I know in G would use a Shabbos elevator.
ReplyDelete(as an aside, I still contend that the more appropriate naming system would have the neighborhood called RBS C in English rather than G)
DeleteI agree, but I never hear anyone call it RBS C. I guess a = aleph, b = bet, but c not = gimmel.
DeleteHave none of you been to Mattesdorf, Romema, Kiryat Belz, the old Shneller Compound or Givat Shaul recently? Full of Chareidi skyscrapers !!!!
DeleteExceptionalism is essential to Modern Chareidism(tm). Don't you remember the statement attributed to Rav Shteinman a few years ago in which he said that he opposed segregated neighbourhoods based on race or ethnic background, EXCEPT for Chareidi neighbourhoods because they needed to maintain their spiritual purity. The folks who are the first to scream for their rights and entitlements are the same ones who will deny you yours in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteCan you point to a specific person who has two hypocritical opinions. Because if not, all you can show is two people with two opinions, and there's nothing surprising about that.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this, and furthermore believe that there should be no TALL bldgs in Jerusalem AT ALL. I believe they are dangerous, usually window don’t open adequately, if at all, poor air quality; elevators are also dangerous (from all the accidents we’ve read about in Wmsbrg; stairwells are a strain on the elderly; and with construction the way it is in Israel – example, the wedding hall that collapsed, and the parking garage now a pile of dirt. Sorry, I’m being cryptic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Neshama. No tall buildings should be built in Jerusalem at all.
DeleteIn addition to the dangers, it is not ascetically pleasing to look at, plus it ruins the character of the city. We don't need every city in the world to look the same, especially one with such religious/historic significance as Jerusalem.
If the major issue is the housing crisis, then let it be solved by finding/building more Charedi communities outside of jerusalem.
ReplyDeleteThey never said that they would oppose to modern people moving there. They supposedly oppose to making things that would motivate them to move. But if those people would move, it's never stated that they would oppose to them...
ReplyDeleteThat is why some cities zone specifically high rises. Check out Hadar Ganim in Petach Tikva, all the new buildings are skyscrapers despite the older part of Amishav being slowly taken over by Haredim demographically.
ReplyDelete