U.S. Tourists To Israel Advised To Dress Modestly

By Michele Chabin
Religion News Service

JERUSALEM (RNS) The U.S. State Department is advising visitors to Jerusalem to dress modestly when visiting certain neighborhoods, or to avoid the areas entirely, in hopes of not provoking local sensitivities.

The State Department guidance did not specify which neighborhoods are considered problematic, or what, exactly, constitutes "modest" attire.

The Jerusalem advisory, updated on Jan. 10, says travelers "should exercise caution at religious sites on holy days, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays" and "dress appropriately" when visiting ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods and the Old City of Jerusalem, where religious Jews, Muslims and Christians live in distinct quarters.

The warning notes that most roads into ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods are blocked off on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays, and that "assaults on secular visitors, either for being in cars or for being 'immodestly dressed' have occurred in these neighborhoods."

The advisory was added to the State Department's website for travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. It comes in the wake of many recent incidents in which ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremists physically or verbally attacked women they said were dressed immodestly.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women cover up everything except their faces, necks and hands.

In Beit Shemesh, a city between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, extremists have attacked religious schoolgirls on their way to school, deeming them not religious enough.

For years, ultra-Orthodox Jews have also stoned cars driving in or near their neighborhoods on the Sabbath or holidays.

Comments

[probo]

10:23 AM on 02/13/2012

Get over it...IF I would visit I will dress however I want...you either WANT my tourist $$$ or you DON'T.

[JacksonJones]

10:59 AM on 02/13/2012

The residents of the one or two neighborhoods in which this is a problem do not want your "tourist $$$." They would prefer that you stay away. However, no one in Tel Aviv or the rest of Jerusalem will give you a problem. But you will need to comply with the dress codes of the houses of worship you wish to visit.

That said, there are many parts of the world in which local customs regarding dress differ severely with our own, and it is generally considered to be good manners to respect local customs in places where you are a guest (and not some sort of visiting maharaja raining gold down on the masses, which seem to be how you envision yourself in your comment above).

[duuwanye]

09:42 AM on 02/13/2012

the only "democracy" in the middle east?? yeah sure

[Michael Dobson]

06:35 AM on 02/10/2012

"U.S. Tourists To Israel Advised To Dress Modestly"

I hear khaki and machine guns are in vogue.

[nogods]

09:35 PM on 02/09/2012

Prudishness is an integral part of all religions.

[Nwo2012]

02:55 AM on 02/12/2012

Also misogyny and patriarchy

[JacksonJones]

11:39 AM on 02/14/2012

And also charity and kindness. It's a mixed bag, really.

[Davidc Smith]

10:24 AM on 02/09/2012

Its their part of the world. They live there--the american tourists don't. Whats wrong with showing these people a little respect and not offending them in there homes. The lack of respect shown to these people is a greater problem than the fact they may hold misguided or midevil beliefs and doesn't mean that someone has a right to flought there fanny in front of them. While I disagree with Islam, for example, I would have very harsh words toward my daughter should she attempt to wear a bikinni into a mosque. Such actions do not demonstrate a superior belief system, but rather an ugly arrogance and contempt for the rights of others to be left alone and to find god as they see fit. Its a shame our state dept even has to make such a warning to Americans to conduct themselves appropriately when visiting anothers country.

[Benignuman]

10:49 AM on 02/09/2012

Thank you for seeing a little past the surface and being thoughtful and reasonable about it.

[wskrs]

04:34 PM on 02/09/2012

I would normally agree with you and halfway agree with you here. However, what you need to remember is this isn't just happening to tourists. These ultra-Orthadox Jews are attacking people in their own country that they don't deem "religious enough," even down to schoolgirls walking home from school. It's an out of control issue and has little do to with Americans not showing respect (though again, one should always be mindful and respectful abroad).

[squiems]

09:51 PM on 02/08/2012

To be fair, most of the most modest areas of israel are arab neighborhoods.

Second, the ulta-orthodox who do practice such backwards ideals are just as bad as the non-violent islamic extremists, and should be condemned as much as posssible. That being said, far fewer ultra-orthodox are as extreme as the few dozen/few hundred who endorse such extreme beliefs.

This article is ridiculously dishonest; in 99.5% of israel, the social standards regarding dress are the same as they are in any european country.

[Nwo2012]

07:33 AM on 02/09/2012

Cant blame the Muslim for this one Chief.

Nice try though!

[JacksonJones]

11:10 AM on 02/09/2012

Who are you trying to blame?

[squiems]

06:01 PM on 02/09/2012

Not blaming muslims whatsoever.

But since you bring it up, the worst ultra-orthodox neighborhoods are pretty much the norm in most of the muslim majority world (outside of a few places like lebanon, notable for their large non-muslim populations).

[With Your Consent]

09:30 PM on 02/08/2012

"JERUSALEM -- Israel has ordered the shutdown of a dovish Israeli radio station, officials and the station's operators said on Sunday.The station and other critics said the move was politically motivated, and part of a broader assault on democracy by conservative forces in the government.
Some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition have pushed forward a series of measures recently that critics say are aimed at stifling opponents."

[soodeeell]

11:05 PM on 02/08/2012

Truth: This "dovish" radio station did not have a license. Not to worry though, there continue to be other Arab radio and TV stations in Israel. Look up Ashams Radio or Reshet Dalet if you're interested. Though I doubt you really are.

[Benignuman]

10:51 AM on 02/09/2012

They shut down right wing stations all the time. They shut down anyone who broadcasts without a license (which most extreme sides do).

[The Perfect Thought]

06:24 PM on 02/08/2012

Oh damn! Does this mean that I can't wear my man thong?

[robinhood1]

04:55 PM on 02/08/2012

Do any of you listen to the news? Read here:

http://reason.com/archives/2012/02/08/obama-can-stop-israel-from-attacking-ira

You don't want to get caught in a conflict zone.

[jacval60]

04:41 PM on 02/08/2012

Yeah I read a article that some ortho-jews were chasing Jewish children and calling them names for wearing a skirt that showed their knees.

[Nwo2012]

07:34 AM on 02/09/2012

They spat on them. Grown men. Spitting on 8 years olds

[JacksonJones]

11:04 AM on 02/09/2012

You seem to have a oddly selective sense of outrage.

[BCEXHAX]

04:02 AM on 02/10/2012

She could be somebody's wife

[LostDemocracy]

02:07 PM on 02/08/2012

Whoever is advising US tourists of this nonsense has never been to Israel. What gibberish.

[Solomon420]

01:44 PM on 02/08/2012

this is a poor attempt at depicting israel as some theocracy based on recommandation to respect religios tradition in a specific area of jerusalem , not in all of israel .
furthermore, this poor depiction is completly absurd if you consider that tel aviv was choosen as the world most gay friendly city in the world .

[greengrl]

08:44 AM on 02/09/2012

Can you please explain to me how Israel is NOT a theocracy? I understand that they many secular laws, but the country's main reason for existence is based on religious beliefs. It is called "the Jewish homeland", not the secular homeland.

[Benignuman]

10:53 AM on 02/09/2012

Jews considers themselves a nation. It isn't any different than calling Germany the German homeland, or Spain the Spanish homeland.

[myopinion2]

10:55 AM on 02/09/2012

What part of jewish isn't secular. It's not the Judaism homeland.

[bi-poplar]

01:22 PM on 02/08/2012

Shoot-you have to be careful when walking through certain areas of America not to provoke their delicate sensibilities

[greengrl]

08:45 AM on 02/09/2012

I sure feel that way every time I drive through rural America with my Darwin fish on my car!

[wskrs]

04:36 PM on 02/09/2012

There are certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn, as a normal female who is not religious and frequently wears jeans and sweaters, that I wouldn't dare traveling to for my own safety.

[SolarPowerGuy]

01:01 PM on 02/08/2012

Not that I wasn't already aware of this behavior, but I just want to say -- what a SWELL bunch of folks the Orthodox are. I'm SO happy that America calls their country an ally.

[Anybodyseenthepopos]

03:19 PM on 02/08/2012

Oh please... They're a teeny percentage of the overall population. I'll readily admit they're a BIG PAIN in the buttski, however it's not even close to an honest representation of Israeli life.

[robinhood1]

04:45 PM on 02/08/2012

They are about 10% of the Jewish population and growing rapidly. They don't believe in birth control. Google Haredi in Israel for more info.

[squiems]

09:52 PM on 02/08/2012

in fact, their numbers are half that of the arab population of israel. And if you didn't know, 75% of arab villages appreciate if outside women dress conservatively while visiting.

[Miranda Wrietz]

10:53 AM on 02/08/2012

Another conservative ideology making the world a better place. I WISH.......... Why is it that the more conservative a theology, the more it attacks women? Are these men unable to control themselves around a bare forearm? Must be a society of LOW morality and ability to control their own temptations. A modern society with stronger morals seems to be able to control their impulses better than the religious in this world. Time to give the religious nutz the same respect as flat earthers. The pandering to the religious only divides the world even more. TIme to end the pandering and respect for non-factual superstitions.