in the schools and city offices to make their adjustments easier to life in israelbut she also faced challenges unique to israels ultraorthodox milieu a selfdescribed religious woman herself if not haredi ms bloch demonstrated great deference to haredi sensibilities in her campaign by keeping her own face off nearly all her campaign posters i was really challenged in a maledominated area ms bloch said in a phone interview as the votes were being counted im a religious woman who made herself aware to others through very hard work even harder because i did not post photos of myself in synagogues or reading the torahtal schneider the political reporter for globes an israeli business newspaper said she was bowled over by ms blochs restraint in her advertising now she can change policy but to get there she had to take out the most important component of democracy which is the person ms schneider said its mindblowingit also worked thousands of ultraorthodox voters voting their own minds rather than their rabbis dictates split their tickets voting for ms bloch for mayor and for haredi candidates for the city council many more unwilling to defy rabbinical authority outright simply did not voteas the final votes were being tallied early thursday one more twist clinched the victory for ms blochthe violence in beit shemesh had not just affected women and girls ultraorthodox jews have even beaten up religious soldiers who dared to be seen around town in uniform but it was the soldiers of beit shemesh who put ms bloch over the top after trailing by about 250 votes with all precincts reporting she pulled ahead thanks to overwhelming support from army bases and others whose ballots were counted lastshe did what i think most of us thought was impossible said mr goldman of gesher im eating my hat with mustard today and its the best meal ive had all year