Following the letter sent to his religious colleagues by Jerusalem Councilman Yitzchak Pindrus questioning how long the chilul Shabbos will be tolerated, dati leumi Councilman Aryeh King sent a letter to religious and chareidi councilman sharply criticizing their collective inaction.

King stated that they had all agreed the matter of chilul Shabbos in the city would remain high on the priority list of religious parties, adding “we met, spoke, discussed and threatened”, indicating the time has come to act. He added “City Hall and the mayor and his yarmulke-wearing advisors sold the idea of elections in the Yuvalim [to some of us] to permit us to climb down from our high ladder…” He questions rhetorically just how long will the councilmen continue benefiting from “photo ops with the mayor at the expense of Kedushas Shabbos”.

He added that he and his religious colleagues have signed a document that they will not permit any additional funding to the Yuvalim (Kiryat Yovel & adjacent neighborhoods) and that they will remain uncompromising in their commitment to ending chilul Shabbos and promoting Kedushas Shabbos in the capital.

Agudas Yisrael Councilman Yochanan Weizman expressed his agreement with King, added their collective lack of action has permitted increased chilul Shabbos in the capital.

What is clear is that amid a measure of indecision by the religious councilmen, there is a growing sentiment that breaking from the city government may be the only option available to them as the mayor and his secular councilmen continue to push for additional chilul Shabbos in the capital.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)