Mea Shearim, an ultra-religious Jewish neighborhood over a hundred years old,
is a popular tourist stop and shopping center.
When you turn the corner
from Strauss Street,
you enter another world,
where Pashkavillim, not the internet provide the latest news.
On Mea Shearim Street discounted books can cause an instant crowd to gather.
For over a year the Or Chaim Bookstore on Mea Shearim Street
has been the target of repeated and increasing terror attacks.
This English modesty sign now hangs outside as a result of those assaults.
Metal doors, security, and police did not protect the owners from the thugs,
who vandalized the store and threatened the owners for over a year.
A group called Sikrikim, extremists who want to control women’s dress and
to decide which books are appropriate to sell and to read.
However, in store
after store,
after store,
after store,
after renovated store on Mea Shearim Street,
no such modesty signs were posted today.
Feldheim bookstore had the sign in Hebrew only.
Despite unending major building and renovation,
and unwelcoming signs
posted at the entrance to the neighborhood, the tourists still keep coming.
A few violent people caused The Or Chaim Bookstore’s shades to be closed,
so from the street no one can see they sell English books.
The damage caused by the Sikrikim was NIS 250.000 (over $65,000) ,
forcing them to give in.
Now they have the signs up.
They will not sell books the Sikrikim disapprove of.
Terror has triumphed in Mea Shearim…
