Mea Shearim
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Mea Shearim (sometimes Meah Shearim), (Hebrew: מאה שערים - Hundred Gates), is one of the oldest neighborhoods of extramural Jerusalem. It was established in 1874 by Jewish philanthropists from Europe in order to provide decent housing to the growing "Old Settlement" of the old Jewish Quarter. The original inhabitants were members of the Perushim community, whose parents and grandparents, disciples of the Vilna Gaon, had arrived in Palestine in the early part of the century.
The neighborhood has conserved its traditional pious character, with its orthodox population of Haredi Jews and the customs of old Hungarian Jewish centers. They follow all aspects of Jewish law from the Bible, Talmud and from the Shulchan Aruch (a guide to Jewish Law).
The area is populated exclusively by Orthodox Jews and is the most strictly Orthodox neighborhood in the world. Because of this, it has slowly become a major tourist attraction. To counter the flow of scantily-clad female tourists and large groups of outsiders, the neighborhood Rabbis had special posters in Hebrew and English put up, which are found at every entrance to the neighborhood. They demand that tourist groups stay away and that visitors dress modestly, which includes, for women, a long skirt, no tight-fitting clothing and clothing that covers the shoulders and the arms at least as far as the elbows.
City buses 1, 10 and 15 drive through Mea Shearim Street, a very small street which is the main artery through the neighborhood.
Residents of Mea Shearim demand that visitors observe several rules:
- Jewish women and girls (young girls as well) are required to wear a skirt that goes beyond the knees and clothing that covers the shoulders and goes at least until the elbows. (The signs, as well as Jewish law, only apply to Jewish females. It is unlikely, however, that a resident would ask someone whether she was Jewish before being angered at her attire or even attacking her, as has famously happened many times.)
- Tourists are asked not to travel in groups (especially not groups of women).
- Residents should not be photographed and certainly not filmed without asking for permission, though taking photographs of random street scenes is fine.
- During the Jewish Sabbath, Shabbat (from sunset Friday until it is completely dark on Saturday night, i.e., 25 hours long), refrain from violating the Shabbat in these areas. That means: no mobile phones, no cigarettes, no (photo or video) cameras, and perhaps somewhat more respectable dress.
Chassidic groups with a large number of followers in Mea Shearim include Breslov, Slonim and Toldos Aharon.