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Last update - 11:09 13/08/2008 A remote ultra-Orthodox city By Uzi Benziman Tags: Jerusalem, Ultra-Orthodox Two items appeared next to each other in yesterday's newspapers: One announced the decision by Hadash MK Dov Khenin to run against incumbent Ron Huldai for Tel Aviv mayor; the other announced that the Agudat Yisrael secretariat had selected United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush as its candidate for Jerusalem mayor. The way the papers reported the two developments reflected their weight in public opinion: The Tel Aviv race was given a great deal of space, while the report on the capital got a few lines at the bottom of the page. You don't have to be a Jerusalem patriot to recognize the absurdity in the attitude on the capital's election campaign of the public and media that shapes its agenda. Usually countries devote special attention to their capitals. The decision to place Porush at the top of the ultra-Orthodox list threatens to give Jerusalem the status and appearance of Beitar Illit. Ostensibly, there is nothing bad about that: Every city determines its image in keeping with its demographic profile and the resulting political balance of power. Jerusalem has for years been growing increasingly ultra-Orthodox, and its lifestyle and leadership have been formed accordingly. For years everyone entering the city has been welcomed by a large clock marking the beginning and end of the Sabbath. For years the artistic design of the city's streets has recalled sukkah decorations. For years the municipality's glory during the holiday has been along the lines of "we put up the biggest Hanukkah menorah." Advertisement For years the Jewish/ultra-Orthodox component in the Jerusalem landscape has been increasingly crowding out the colorful mosaic that characterized it in the past. Not only secular and moderate Orthodox people have become a minority in the city - the multinational and multireligious minorities that once bustled through the city's streets seem to have withdrawn in the face of ultra-Orthodox domination. Predictions show that in seven years the number of schoolchildren aged six to 14 in ultra-Orthodox educational institutions will be three times the number in state secular and state Orthodox schools. The state and the wider public treat this trend complacently: They leave it to Jerusalemites to determine their municipal fate. The most productive population in the city has indeed drawn its own conclusions and is leaving in droves - there has been negative migration of about 60,000 over the past five years. Young secular people and members of the middle class are leaving the city, either because it is fashionable or because there are no jobs to be found in many professions. The movement away from the city has left space to be filled by the ultra-Orthodox community, mainly the poor (though there is a limited stratum of wealthy Jews from abroad buying vacation apartments in the city's luxury neighborhoods). The poor are increasingly dependent on public coffers (one-third of Jerusalem's families live below the poverty line, as opposed to 11 percent in Tel Aviv). These processes, which have been known for years, received precedent-setting political recognition with the election of Mayor Uri Lupolianski five years ago. They are apparently about to be solidified in the upcoming election that is expected to put Porush in the mayor's office. The hope many secular Jerusalemites had after Lupolianski's election, that he would represent the interests of all residents, was dashed. On his watch, Jerusalem became more ultra-Orthodox, ultra-Orthodox institutions penetrated clearly secular neighborhoods, an ultra-Orthodox perspective influenced the decisions by the city's leaders in matters large (the expansion of Har Homa, for example), and small (the covering-up with robes of the young female dancers at the Chords Bridge dedication). The city is become increasingly provincial, zealous and narrow-minded, its leaders apparently focused on promoting the needs of the ultra-Orthodox population. They are also the ones to express the most volatile positions in moments of controversy with the city's Palestinian residents. Tel Avivians are to be envied: They will have to choose between a proactive mayor accused of overdevotion to dense construction and a challenger who champions environmental considerations. Such disagreements, which are indeed the most important for developing cities, are considered luxuries in Jerusalem. This city is struggling over the definition of its basic identity when it surrenders to the ultra-Orthodox assault, which is increasingly turning it into Bnei Brak. This result will render unimportant the great controversy with the Palestinians over Jerusalem: As the newspapers proved yesterday, who really cares what is going on in a remote ultra-Orthodox city? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Palin and Buchanan McCain's VP pick's ties to Pat Buchanan rankles Jewish Democrats. A foray into politics A former envoy to the U.S. says Arabs in the Galilee are a secessionist threat.   1.   Maybe its love 14:09  |  Mrs. from USA 13/08/08   2.   So What`s Wrong With A Shabbat Times Sign? 15:44  |  Ben Israel 13/08/08   3.   I guess thats why you want to give all of Jerusalem away 15:50  |  Melvin Schnell 13/08/08   4.   A Primitive Backwter of Ativism 16:03  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/08/08   5.   Ultra-Orhthdox Record 16:39  |  Andrew 13/08/08   6.   Re- Yaakov Sullivan 16:41  |  Mrs. from USA 13/08/08   7.   Jerusalem then and now 16:44  |  Wolfy 13/08/08   8.   Painful To Argue Against Decent People 16:49  |  No To My Believers 13/08/08   9.   Mrs from USA on Jerusalem and the World 16:55  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/08/08   10.   A PENDULUM HAS A FULCRUM 17:16  |  soggy liberal 13/08/08   11.   The Ultra Orthodox are PAYING most TAXES 17:32  |  Dr D 13/08/08   12.   soggy liberal is thus saying... 17:41  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/08/08   13.   Oh - oh ! 17:42  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/08/08   14.   The Seculars are taking over Tel Aviv 18:06  |  Steven 13/08/08   15.   Dr D, you must be joking right? 18:08  |  Alex 13/08/08   16.   Ultra Orthodox Palestinians 18:08  |  Ms. from USA 13/08/08   17.   #11, Dr. D. 18:10  |  Silvienne 13/08/08   18.   The death of tolerance 18:17  |  Jeff 13/08/08   19.   #17 18:45  |  R 13/08/08   20.   Ah Uzi Benziman - you are really suffering... 19:06  |  Miriam Ashkelon 13/08/08   21.   I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE ULTRA ORTHODOX OF MANY RELIGIONS TOOK 19:09  |  victor hardman 13/08/08   22.   Ultra Orthodox 19:10  |  (david) 13/08/08   23.   Miriam Ashkelon On Jewish Life 19:17  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/08/08   24.   goes to show how secular are bankrupt, what a shame 19:43  |  middle of d road yid 13/08/08   25.   Is Yaakov Sullivan a "Racist"? 19:54  |  Jack 13/08/08   26.   Dr [ ? ] d 19:59  |  Charles 13/08/08   27.   middle of d road yid #24 20:02  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/08/08   28.   Jeff 18 20:03  |  Charles 13/08/08   29.   To Charles 28 20:53  |  Dr D 13/08/08   30.   Jack of Johnsonville on "racism" 21:00  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/08/08   31.   dr D 21:12  |  Charles 13/08/08   32.   Where else? 21:24  |  R`fael Moshe 13/08/08   33.   dr d , contradict himself 21:24  |  Charles 13/08/08   34.   What a frightening idea: Jerusalem 100% ultra orthodox 21:43  |  Benjamina 13/08/08   35.   Yaacov Sullivan , why are you a liar ? 21:59  |  Charles 13/08/08   36.   Jaakov Sullivan 22:33  |  Jack 13/08/08   37.   I thought they are called Haredim! 22:36  |  Zev Davis 13/08/08   38.   Jewrusalem 22:41  |  Daniel 13/08/08   39.   Jerusalem is Holy to those Who Love It 23:14  |  Baruch Gold 13/08/08   40.   Strengthen and Support Liberal Judaism once and for all. 23:19  |  Fortuna Benmayor 13/08/08   41.   Orthodox 23:41  |  SD 13/08/08   42.   Judaism and Israel in NOT anchored in Orthodox Rabbinic Tradition 23:55  |  Michael Gans 13/08/08   43.   Jerusalem is a dirty dump 00:45  |  COME ON PEOPLE! 14/08/08   44.   soggy liberal 00:46  |  Catholic 14/08/08   45.   ReSpEcT 01:31  |  MH 14/08/08   46.   Since they do not wish to give it away.... 01:32  |  Tal 14/08/08   47.   Its a disaster 03:42  |  sweis Melbourne 14/08/08   48.   "The City (Jerusalem) become increasingly narrow-minded "Ed. 05:54  |  Akram Zekaria 14/08/08   49.   I just love it 06:02  |  Meir Weinstein 14/08/08   50.   WOLFY - CANADA 07:40  |  shoshanna 14/08/08   51.   Charles 28 07:41  |  Jeff 14/08/08   52.   To Yaakov Sullivan 09:12  |  Meir Weinstein 14/08/08   53.   #45 on unity of JEWS 09:32  |  Ari ben Yisrael 14/08/08   54.   Response to #23 02:32  |  Haredim 16/08/08   55.   #52 You orthodox don`t trat us messianic Jews respectfully 02:58  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/08/08   56.   #35 Not a lier, Iam a proud Catholic Jew not a Moslim 03:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/08/08   57.   Insular Jerusalem 13:22  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 01/09/08

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