Ravaad Eida Chareidis HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, who is visiting northern Israel as is his minhag during the Shovavim, has come out against Tiveria Mayor Ron Kobi, who continues his efforts to increase chilul Shabbos in the city, seeking to make the northern holy city an area entertainment center, including on Shabbos. The mayor has actually called on stores to give up their mehadrin hechsher and to open on Shabbos.

It is reported that during his stay in the north, the rav has spoken out numerous times regarding the determined anti-religious agenda of the newly-elected mayor of a holy city, particularly recent events that were sponsored by City Hall on Shabbos.

Rav Sternbuch expressed his sorrow to the residents of the city have yet to organize a major protest, an event that should include all the religious and chareidi residents of the city regarding the pain caused by the growing Chilul Shabbos.

During the course of the events, one of the participants claimed that a large number of the city’s residents had already taken upon themselves a fast day for the situation in the city, but Rav Sternbuch responded that while the fast is a very big matter, it has no connection to the protest, and aside from that, there is an obligation to remove the Chilul Hashem.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)