Rav Yitzchak Goldknoff of the Vaad for Shmiras Shabbos spoke with Kol Berama Radio host Noam Zeigman on Sunday morning regarding Health Minister Yaakov Litzman’s threat to break from the coalition if Israel Railways continues its chilul Shabbos, employing Jews to perform maintenance and repairs.

Zeigman points out that despite the statements attributed to Litzman, he threatened to leave the coalition if chilul Shabbos by the railway continues, not specifying only if Jewish laborers are involved. Zeigman stated the letter simply stated if work is carried out by the railway, he would leave the coalition.

Despite the threat, non-Jews were employed this past Shabbos, Parshas Toldos, working on tracks in the Dimona area. Goldknoff explains in this particular incident, it may have actually been a case of pikuach nefesh. The rabbi added that it is clear to all if the chilul Shabbos by the railway continues, Yahadut Hatorah will stand firmly behind Litzman and leave the coalition.

A senior advisor to Israel Railways is quoted by Kol Berama, quoted explaining it was not really pikuach nefesh in the halachic sense, for no one was going to die if the repairs were not made. The advisor is quoted saying “It is simply a matter of deciding how much they wish to inconvenience riders for that is the reason the work is not carried out during the week and this has nothing to do with halachic pikuach nefesh.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)