In a letter sent to the weekly Mishpacha Magazine, Jerusalem Councilman Yitzchak Pindrus published an apology and explanation to Mayor Nir Barkat for his harsh criticism against the mayor in an interview with the magazine.

Pindrus used the letter to state the mayor is not acting ‘davka’, that is to say he is not acting specifically in contradiction to the better interests of the chareidi tzibur in the capital.

In his interview Pindrus used the forum to strike out harshly against the mayor regarding growing chilul Shabbos in the city and the vote to permit opening the Mitcham HaTachana on Shabbos.

While the interview quotes Pindrus in a different light, he writes “Unfortunately, it could be understood from my response that concerning the Mitcham HaTachana, Mayor Barkat is acting to anger and this just is not so. The mayor does not act out of spite but acts in the belief that this is what the status quo is supposed to be in Jerusalem towards serving the public that is still not Torah observant”.

Clearly the letter is an effort to calm the situation at City Hall after the magazine quoted Pindrus saying Barkat “Is the last hope of the non-religious with his agenda to advance chilul Shabbos…” in his reference to increasing chilul Shabbos in the city.

Kikar Shabbos News reports the mayor spoke to a number of rabbonim in the city about the double standard – explaining on the one hand he worked to shut down convenience stores in the city but in the chareidi media he is portrayed as a villain.

One might opine the rabbonim suggested to Pindrus that a public apology may be in order.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)