We have seen a sign in Mea Shearim advertising a model apartment. Blaine and I stopped to go through it to see what an orthodox apartment would look like. We couldn't find the model so one of the construction workers called the office to have someone take us to the model. The first question they asked was if we are religious. I answered Yes, but not in the Jewish faith. The apartment has 2 sinks in the kitchen for kosher cooking.
It also had timers on all of the window shades to let in light without doing any work on the Sabbath.
A sliding metal cover over the windows turns the room into a "safe room". aka bomb shelter Also twin beds so husbands and wives sleep separately while she is having her period.
The shower was in the corner with no shower stall around it.
Some of the other features were a Sabbath elevator that stops on every floor on the Sabbath so you don't have to push any buttons, a timer for all of the lights in the house so you don't have to flip any switches, and close access to the synagogue so you don't have to drive a car on the Sabbath. All of this for a mere 3 1/2 million shekels or about 1 million dollars. It is a 3-bedroom, 2 bath unit that will probably house a large family. The average size of an ultra orthodox family I've been told is 8 children.
The apartment building is under construction and has been the whole time we've been here.
This post was truly fascinating. I have to hand it to Blaine to be brave enough to ask for adventures like these.
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