Another uplifting story from the holy land!Thanks to JTA for following this...
Conservative woman attacked for tefillin imprint
May 13, 2010
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A Conservative Jewish woman was attacked in Beersheba reportedly for having the imprints of tefillin lines visible on her arms.
Noa Raz was physically assaulted Tuesday morning by a fervently Orthodox man in Beersheba's Central Bus Station, where she was waiting for a bus to her job in Tel Aviv, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Israel Religious Action Center.
According to the release, the man asked Raz twice if the imprints were from tefillin. When she told him that they were he began to kick and strangle her while screaming “women are an abomination.” Raz reportedly broke free from the man and boarded her bus.
Raz is a member of Women of the Wall, which holds a monthly Rosh Chodesh women's prayer service at the Western Wall. In March, fervently Orthodox men threw chairs at the women as they prepared to pray at the Wall.
Raz filed a police report on the incident on Wednesday. The Israel Religious Action Center has called on the Beersheba police to treat Raz’s assault as a hate crime.
Anat Hoffman, executive director of IRAC, stated that the assault on Raz for wrapping tefillin “should not be seen as an isolated incident, but as taking place within an atmosphere of growing violence toward and intimidation of women who seek to pray freely and equally. Too often these acts of violence are tolerated. The fact that this man thought it acceptable to attack a woman for performing a religious act in private is an example of the escalation of violence targeted against women and against religious pluralists in Israel."
May 13, 2010
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A Conservative Jewish woman was attacked in Beersheba reportedly for having the imprints of tefillin lines visible on her arms.
Noa Raz was physically assaulted Tuesday morning by a fervently Orthodox man in Beersheba's Central Bus Station, where she was waiting for a bus to her job in Tel Aviv, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Israel Religious Action Center.
According to the release, the man asked Raz twice if the imprints were from tefillin. When she told him that they were he began to kick and strangle her while screaming “women are an abomination.” Raz reportedly broke free from the man and boarded her bus.
Raz is a member of Women of the Wall, which holds a monthly Rosh Chodesh women's prayer service at the Western Wall. In March, fervently Orthodox men threw chairs at the women as they prepared to pray at the Wall.
Raz filed a police report on the incident on Wednesday. The Israel Religious Action Center has called on the Beersheba police to treat Raz’s assault as a hate crime.
Anat Hoffman, executive director of IRAC, stated that the assault on Raz for wrapping tefillin “should not be seen as an isolated incident, but as taking place within an atmosphere of growing violence toward and intimidation of women who seek to pray freely and equally. Too often these acts of violence are tolerated. The fact that this man thought it acceptable to attack a woman for performing a religious act in private is an example of the escalation of violence targeted against women and against religious pluralists in Israel."
2 comments:
"Anat Hoffman, executive director of IRAC, stated that the assault on Raz for wrapping tefillin “should not be seen as an isolated incident,..."
Actually, it is an isolated incident, despite Anat Hoffman's declaration.
The lunatic who attacked her didn't yell "women wearing tefillin are an abomination", rather "WOMEN are an abomination."
He should be locked up for treatment.
Yes, as a mental health professional I agree he sounds as if he has major issues, but I beleive there is a growing atmosphere of agression and a tolerence of violent acts aimed at women who dare to take back their religion. People who have mental health issues can pick up their cues from their peers and social structures. I believe This poor soul, clearly psychatric, was acting out the base hate he is picking up on in his community.
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