Tali-Ban upon you Yids

Rookie bloggers often screw up, and so I somehow erased a monumental, brilliant entry and must begin again. This version will pale in comparison to its predecessor, as bayit sheni was no match for Solomon's. Anyway, I raise two items, related in two ways. The first was published on the summer solstice, the second almost exactly on the shortest day of the year. Well, almost. In any case, they're reflections of the same reality, the process of Haredizing Orthodox and Talibanized Haredi. On the year's longest day it was reported that HaModia, the Gerer Hasidim news organ, had banned the unblurred appearance of the female poonim (face) upon the sacred pages of its book catalog. Then at this time of the year's longest night, we discover that restrictions have been placed upon devout women attaining advanced degrees. I could go on, but I must return home to administer baths and supervise homework. Meanwhile in Qatar, female college college enrollment exceeds that of males. Its true...Ah shandeh, no?