Many are pointing a finger of blame at Jerusalem City Hall, Mayor Nir Barkat, explaining that since he assumed the leadership of the city, there is an increase in the number of businesses permitted to ignore the law, opening and operating on shabbos.
Adding to the list of concerns of the shabbos watchdogs in Yerushalayim, rabbonim and askanim alike, is Jerusalem Meretz Councilman Pepe Alalu, who is calling on City Hall to permit the Jerusalem Theater to open its doors on shabbos. As the Eida is carrying on weekly protests against the opening of Karta parking lot and Intel, and the Vaad L’maan Shabbos is targeting grocery and convenience stores operating in gas stations, Alalu is working to expand the secular influence on the Holy Capital.
Alalu insists the impetus to open the theater’s doors on shabbos is not his, but that of the operator, who approached him seeking to earn the additional day of business.
Shabbos activists are quick to point out that a number of chareidi functions are held in the theater, such as the United Hatzolah event, and if the theater decides to open its doors and join the chilul shabbos secularists, then obviously the chareidi community will be compelled to take its business elsewhere.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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4 Responses
Alalu – אללי לי
(from Kinos of Tisha b’Av)
Thats what haredim get for their lack of achdut.
They are to blame.
Hopefully they learned their lesson
Acdut? not achdut but rather the reckless pursuit of a few for the sake of looking after their own pockets. As long as the vision would be a bit more altruistic, and yes financial issues can be altruistic, then the greater good would have had more more influence in the outcome. I think listening to the Gedolei Yisroel would have been a good clue for direction. Proforma visits with gedolei Yisroel does not make you an adherent. Those in America are called photo ops
The Jerusalem Theater is SMACK in the middle of Talbieh/Katamon area. Let’s hear from the modern Orthodox & Religious zionist leaders about this issue. The theater could be open & Haredi Jews would NEVER know…..
However….this would really affect the amount of traffic & noise in an area where so many Shomer Shabbos Jews live.