Israeli 8-year-old returns to school for first time since accosted by Haredi men
Speaking at Na'ama Margolese return to class, Education Minister Sa'ar says Israel won't 'back down in the face of bullying and threats.'
By Oz RosenbergAn 8-year-old girl who became the symbol of a recent public struggle against gender segregation and religious extremism returned to school on Thursday, for the first time since a violent incident that sparked a nation-wide protest movement.
Na'ama Margolese turned into a household name last week after Channel 2 broadcasted a segment in which the young girl's described being spat on and accosted by ultra-Orthodox men over what they deemed to be her indecent apparel.
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Na’ama Margolese, the 8-year-old Beit Shemesh girl so traumatized by taunting Haredim that she refused to cross the street in their direction even with the aid of her mother. |
| Photo by: Courtesy |
The story soon became a focal point for a rising protest movement against the exclusion of women in the public sphere, with thousands of Israelis amassing in Beit Shemesh to speak out against gender segregation.
On Thursday, Na'aman, escorted by mother Hadassah, arrived at her school following the Hanukkah break, for the first time since that incident. She was welcomed by Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar and members of the Knesset's Committee on the Status of Women.
The 8-year-old did not comment upon entering the school, with her mother saying that she hoped "everything we have done thus far will lead to change, and that things will be quieter from now on."
Hadassah Margolese told reporters that Beit Shemesh mayor Moshe Abutbul attempted to meet with the family, who rejected his offer. "He didn't help with the harassments until now," she said, adding that she has "faith in the state and the police."
"We're headed for a victory for the entire State of Israel," she said.
Speaking at the occasion, Sa'ar said that Israel won't "back down in the face of bullying and threats," adding that he was "impressed by the educational actions taking place in the school in the last few months."
"There's a drop in disturbances, but we need to work to make them go away completely," the education minister said.
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...how the thumbs up on this website are always politically guided, and never on how valid/invalid the person's comments were.
Palestinian children walking to school are often the victims of settlers who not only spit on the children but throw rocks at them. But there is no protest march by Israelis to demand that the settlers stop their vile acts of intimidation and hatred. The children continue going to school in spite of the settlers and that is a victory for the children who will not let the settlers stop them from getting an education.
Settlers in Hebron and in places like Havat Ma'on regularly beat up and harass young Palestinian children walking to school. If it's wrong when it happens to a young Jewish girl, then it is equally wrong when it happens to young Palestinian children. Yet the Israeli authorities have done little or nothing to stop such harassment over many years.
Settlers in Hebron and in places like Havat Ma'on regularly beat up and harass young Palestinian children walking to school. If it's wrong when it happens to a young Jewish girl, then it is equally wrong when it happens to young Palestinian children. Yet the Israeli authorities have done little or nothing to stop such harassment over many years.
I bet we all thought that Selma,Alabama and Little Rock,Arkansas was behind us.The only thing behind these haredi are the seat of their pants.
I believe the perpetrators, deserve prolonged jail sentence and nothing short of it- under the child molestation charge, and the abuse of religious freedom. Sylvia Sztern-SempreLovingM.G.
They got inspired by the Taliban. It shows that religious extremism is not isolated to one religion only. We the Jews, can be our own worst enemy sometimes.
To leave the freedoms of the US to raise your kids in this hate infested sewer is not good parenting at all. The sad truth is any state built on religion (and please don't tell me Israel is secular) will ultimately always gravitate towards extremism and hatred. The sad truth that many Israelis refuse to see is that the hatred and contempt felt for the Arabs (rightly or wrongly) is now turning in on itself. The Haredi are a product of Israel's policies and postures over many generations, they may be a minority but it is a lunatic fringe that has echoes throughout Israeli society.
And where do you get your historical information?! Israel is the home for the Jewish people. It is a Democratic and free state. If someone breaks into my home here in the US and robs me does that mean that this behavior and the collective behavior of Americans are the result of too much freedom?? Did you study the origins of the Jewish people and the "Haredi"? Get your historical facts straight please.
Haredi bomb is primed and waiting to blow.
Haaretz I am aghast that you see fit to print some of them. We are talking here about a few meshugannah Jews - don't tar the brush with all good religious Jews. Yours is a despicable news rag.
in fact its disgusting to spit on anyone, but you have been educated in this way. May HaShem forgive you you evil nasty person. You dont have religion, you have a sect that dates back to the dark ages, like the taliban.!!
Disgusting excuse for a human being wrapped up in religion Not my religion as Judaism is not like that.
Really? Is that why protest organizers changed the location of the protest?
They ought to track down the cockroach who spat on a liitle girl on her way to school and hang him up on a tree by his pigtails.
Is this about 'gender segregation' or is it about violence and coercion? Other than a few mentally deranged people every Chareidi and secular Jew is against violence and coercion. Was the protest against Chareidi lifestyle?! It would be completely undemocratic to protest the lifestyle of these Chareidim if they are not harrassing others.
It's not segregation it's separation. Learn the difference.
Didn't you read the article?
But they are harrassing others. If they really want to be traditional, let them go back to wandering the desert. Everyone else can evolve. They were righteous in their day--but not today.
Right: The problem with gender segregation is the coercive and violent element. The day everyone individually decides to sit separately on the bus... Well, OK, then! But until that day, it's the element of force that makes gender segregation intolerable in the public sphere.
So now Haredi=Violent Extremists . What a blood libel. Does this paper identify every person who commits a crime by their religious orientation?? People who are deranged and part of a cult are mentally ill no matter what religion they identify with . These are ILL people. Please stop putting us all in the same category.
I wonder when those Palestinian 8 year will get the same press because they've been getting spit on by settlers for years. Look at Youtube. Will you all be evenhanded in your sympathy for 8 year olds or are they different because they're born into something else?
If Haredi men hate women so much why do they marry them. All Haredi men should keep away from women all their life and the problem will be solved in another 50 to 60 years. Israel will be a better place to live 60 years from now.
Just remember young lady, this is not the way real men behave. Only those who are insecure in there own manhood and religion behave in this manner. Here in East Tennessee we hang men who assault little girls and women. Haredi = Cowards. Regards, Brian Heise bdheise@hotmail.com
Our Statesider 'Shaker' sect kept apart [gender-wise]. They spent much of their time in [separated] worship and making very functional furniture and other crafts. As the sect progressed[?] it produced no children and grew mostly thru conversions. Finally, their sparce communities [who lived in common buildings] passed- on, leaving their sacred music and practical arts. What will the Haredim leave? If they have ANY values or worth they need to let us know and take their place in the greater society?..They cud start by stopping spit- ting upon and insulting women and children?..Aaron Allen...
Well said, Chupagrannyz! I think you are closer to the heart of the Almighty than any "holy" man who can torment a child.
... the police did it for him.
Jews are no different than the Arabs/Muslims, because it is in their hearts to be inhuman to their own women. These two eternal enemies have a fear and hatred of women in their own religions. But their insanity of suppressing their own kind gives us the clues that to change you have look at your own religion, before you hate another for theirs. Using religion to kill, abuse, harass and destroy their God given rights is evil. Religions are of NO use to man, if he thinks that God gave them the right to use it for evil purposes. That is why more and more decent people don't go to church any more. THE RONBOT HUNTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Hey how about you go watch some women walk outside in Ramallah and in Jerusalem and see exactly who are accosted in which city.
Why doesn't the government issue this little brave heart a medal, setting the tone against bullying women?
BIBI =Israel will Fight Harassment of women -i guess he come out with sick and STUPID idea -thinking to separate beit shamesh -wow what a scary solution just to think of =conclusion 360* BIBI your not Leader period -your to weak to lead us -so far you only talking baloooony to the wall -window dressing that"s all -no more no less -what have you done so far ??? beside talking + + non sense
You can say whatever you want, but you can't stop the Ultra-Orthodox community from taking over.
You mean you'd rather get nuked than sit seperately in a bus?
The ultra-orthodox haredim do not get drafted into the military. They do not pay their fair share of taxes or any taxes at all. It is easy to amend a voting law by stipulating if the citizen does not pay taxes and or does not put in his/her military time then that person loses their right to vote. I am not a constitutional lawyer and my explanation is probably simplistic but there are other experts that can find a way to cut out these parasites of society if necessary.
And of course they can't protect themselves, because they refuse to.
What has happen to you ? O'Israel,you are making the angels cry.to allow grown men to torment a young child, Jewish women disrespected our young boy taught to hate That why we went to war to stop Hitler,So the children of Israel would never be abused again .Are this men true Jew Honest, Kind .Men of Torah ? If they are the are not showing it They are putting Doubt in people harts.A Rabbi that teaches his student to cause people to doubt The Almighty Goodness should not teach such a person has not learn enough himself that along teach other ,but then what do I know I am just a humble women made from Adam rib just from his side So sad and Sorry Almighty G-D of the Heavens ,but this little ribs hart is hurting for Israel right now