June 25, 2012   Mea She’arim, Jerusalem
By 5am, Monday morning, thousands gathered at the main square, Kikar HaShabat, in the Ultra Orthodox neighborhood of Mea She’arim in Jerusalem, to protest the government’s plans to start drafting haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) men to the IDF and national service, mandatory for other Israeli citizens.
In a rare occasion, women were also called to take part in the rally, though gathering on a side street, separate from the men, as is custom in haredi communities.
Men wore sack-clothes and smeared ashes on their heads as a symbol of mourning what they have termed the “decree of army enlistment,” taking them away from their Torah studies.
Video: http://youtu.be/N2W1U5KwD60

  1. hadasparush posted this