Jerusalem – After being informed of yesterday’s protest in Meah Shearim by Chareidi Jews who refused to let an Egged bus pass through their streets since the bus does not provide separate areas for men and women, Reb Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, shlita, said that gender segregation is not an area that can be enforced in the public realm. According to a report by ‘Israel Hayom Daily‘.

“Reb Elyashiv feels that it is laudable for a private company to separate men and women, but it is impossible to obligate a public company to adopt this standard. You can attempt to persuade them, you can explain to them that it is a wise financial move, but you cannot force a public company to do something like this,” said Chaim Cohen, a long time aide to Reb Elyashiv.

The number one bus line which ran through Meah Shearim had been rerouted to avoid the area for eighteen months due to attacks by Chareidi protestors who wanted the bus to enforce separate areas for men and women. The bus resumed its run through Meah Shearim on December 1st and yesterday’s protest involving 100 chareidim who used their own bodies and baby carriages to block the bus marked the first demonstration against the bus line.

The 101 year old Reb Elyashiv is considered by many to be the leader of Ashkenazic Jewry and the leading halachic authority of today’s generation.