The Moetzas Gedolei Torah of Agudas Yisrael, Degel Hatorah and Shas are set to convene in a combined session on Thursday, 16 Elul. They will be discussing state-approved chilul Shabbos, primarily Israel Railways. They will also address buses running in some areas on Shabbos.

The Chief Rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl Shlita was released from the hospital this week and he is calling on the combined rabbinical forum to address the efforts by the Reform and Conservative Movements at the Kosel.

The rav sent letters to Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita, and the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita, calling on them to use the forum of achdus to address the Kosel. “Last week, the High Court addressed Chilul Kodesh and efforts by those seeking to uproot Yiddishkheit at the Kosel as the court appears to be leaning to compel the ‘Kosel arrangement’ [the egalitarian prayer area].”

Rav Nebenzahl explains that he is in touch Rav of the Kosel and Holy Sites Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita, who is doing everything possible to combat those seeking to implement the compromise, to change the long-standing arrangement that exists at the Kosel.

Realizing HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita may not actually attend the forum, the rav sent his letters in advance to the rabbonim shlita, calling on the combined forum to also address the Kosel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)