Jerusalem Councilmen and municipality officials have recently received a memo explaining the city will not pay for flights on Shabbos even if the travel is business related, MyNet reports.

Deputy Mayor (Yerushalmim) Tamir Nir, who hold the city’s transportation portfolio, was invited to attend a Brussels conference addressing transportation. Nir ordered a ticket, planning to fly back home to Israel on Shabbos since the conference closes on a Friday. Nir explains city officials told him if he flies on Shabbos, he will not be reimbursed for the flight.

As a result, he was required to inquire when Shabbos ends in Brussels and book a flight on motzei Shabbos.

Officials in City Hall explain that in line with city regulation 4.2.11, an employee may not fly to or from a destination if a portion of the flight will violate Shabbos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)