Lily 13

I had expected Bakehila to gloat over what was a clear cut Haredi victory.
They don't, merely thank the IDF for negotiating in good faith, helping to solve the issue of fulltime yeshiva students. They look forward to continuing negotiations on the issue of parttime yeshiva students/parttime workers with these same capable negotiators.
They suggest the IDF study the issue of using more summer camps to fulfill truncated draft tours for these people, less interference in their studies.
Also they mention how it will be easier to live within Department of Education allotments, now that the sensible rationalization of capacity is done.
It is on the topic of foreigners that they positively glow. They inform the readership rumors are correct, all new residents will be Canadian and American Jews, groups with which the Haredi have always had fairly good relations. They assert, far better these people arriving than secular Israelis taking over the buildings.
They mention the Haredi welcome wagon will shift into gear. These new people will not be allowed to simply wander around and get lost. Rabbis will assign a Haredi to each new arrival, to help them find things like stores, bus routes, libraries, clinics, government offices.
These hosts will be asked to refrain from any religious comments; lest they be misunderstood as pushy. They are permitted to give any advice on kosher which might be asked.
They finish by noting that the new arrivals are not a bunch of young drunks. All are people who previously failed the IDF medical, have varying degrees of health problems, definitely not the sort to be howling at 2:00 am.
Somehow, reading all this, I feel more confident. One could have far worse neighbors.
I call up a detailed map, find all three residences are completely surrounded by Haredi neighborhoods. Meaning zero crime.
You could not be safer, unless you are so misguided as to - gasp - drive on the Sabbath. Given the price of cars and gas, I will be bussing and walking.
All right, so how exactly do I make a living? The $64 question. But then, I'd face the same question staying here. The world is considerably less understanding towards its deaf people than to its blind.
It hits me. When I arrive, request a deaf Haredi to be assigned for my orientation, get better advice.
At the medical, the doctor informs me deafness is irrelevent to his terms of reference. He has not been asked to judge my odds on the employment market; merely to certify that I will not be a large drain upon the health care system. And that, I pass, no problem.