Meah Shearim
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Meah Shearim, (Hebrew: מאה שערים), is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Jerusalem. It was established in 1874 by a company with originally 100 shareholders in order to provide decent housing to the growing "Old Settlement" of the old Jewish Quarter. The original inhabitants were members of the Perushim community, whose parents and grandparents, disciples of the Vilna Gaon, had arrived in Palestine in the early part of the century.
The name was taken from Genesis 26:12 as a prayer and blessing that the community would thrive and expand:
Isaac sowed in that land, and in that year he reaped "מאה שערים - a hundredfold"; God had blessed him. [1]
The neighborhood has conserved its traditional pious character, with its orthodox population of Haredi Jews and the customs of old Hungarian Jewish centers. They follow all aspects of Jewish law from the Bible, Talmud and Shulchan Aruch.
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[edit] Neighbourhood regulations
The area is populated exclusively by Orthodox Jews and is the most strictly Orthodox neighborhood in the world. Chassidic groups with a large number of followers in Meah Shearim include Breslov, Slonim and Toldos Aharon. It is also the stronghold of the extremely anti-Zionist Neturei Karta movement. The "Edah HaChareidis", which provides kashrus certification (hechsher), and acts as a Jewish legal court, is also situated within Meah Shearim.
[edit] Guidelines
To limit the number of scantily-clad women and keep the neighborhood from being overrun by large groups of tourists, "modesty" posters in Hebrew and English are hung at every entrance. Visitors to Meah Shearim should adhere to the following rules:
- Modest dress for women and girls (knee-length skirts or longer, no plunging necklines or midriff tops, no sleeveless blouses or bare shoulders)
- Tourists should not visit the neighbourhood in groups.
- Residents should not be photographed or filmed without permission.
- During the Jewish Sabbath (from sunset Friday until it is completely dark on Saturday night), refrain from violating the Sabbath in any way. That means no mobile phones, no cigarettes, no photo or video cameras.
- Avoid wearing blatant Christian symbols or T-shirts with Christian slogans.
[edit] Transportation
City buses 1, 10 and 15 drive through Meah Shearim Street, a very narrow street which is the main artery through the neighborhood.
[edit] Image gallery
 Meah Shearim on Chanukah |
[edit] References
- Halper, Jeff : Beetween Redemption and Revival: The Jewish Yishuv of Jerusalem in the Nineteenth Century (Westview Press, 1991)ISBN 0-8133-7855-9 (hardcover)
