It was the latest battle in the clash between haredi zealots and Modern Orthodox Jews in Beit Shemesh, a heavily American suburb of 80, about 25 minutes from Jerusalem. Police cars with flashing blue lights have become a fixture outside the school in this leafy neighborhood, and groups of volunteers patrol the main thoroughfare separating Banot Orot from the haredi neighborhood. In the past few years, religious fundamentalists have assaulted bus passengers who have attempted to sit next to members of the opposite sex, firebombed a pizza shop where the sexes mixed and beaten other haredim who have tried to speak out publicly against religious zealotry in the community.
Lipman, whose own daughters do not attend Banot Orot, shows up outside the school almost daily to ensure that the young girls are not taunted or pelted with refuse. Before Rosh Hashanah he organized a demonstration of a few thousand people β Modern Orthodox and more secular residents of Beit Shemesh β against extremist intimidation. Mayor Moshe Abutbul had been involved until recently in trying to bring the two sides together to find a solution.
But after the decision to open Banot Orot was made over his head, by the national Education Ministry, he appears to have taken a step back. He declined a request for a full interview.
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