Meretz Party officials remain determined in creating a new reality in Israel, one that includes public transportation on shabbos. The party continues funding bus services in areas of Hod HaSharon, Cholon, Kfar Saba and Ra’anana on shabbos towards achieving this goal. This past week, activists announced that on Shabbos Tshuva, buses would also be operating in Yerushalayim.
The bus route advertised as follows. The bus will begin in Kiryat Yovel towards Beit HaKerem, to Rechavia, ending at the Ben-Yehuda area. Meretz leader MK Zahava Gal-On and Meretz Jerusalem official Pepe Alou will be on hand to greet the bus passengers when it arrives at Ben-Yehuda along with other chilul shabbos activists. Gal-On accuses the chareidi politicians of “taking over” the bus system and forcing their views on the majority which wants shabbos bus service.
Hearing of the planned bus service in the capital, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch expressed pain and sorrow over “the Meretz provocation” in the holy city.
“We are aware the party lacks the funds to pay for the chilul shabbos buses and we also know most residents of the capital don’t want it. But during an election year, what won’t a party do” added Deutsch.
The deputy mayor added that if this is not a onetime occurrence and the buses continue running in the coming weeks, the frum councilmen will have to decide a plan of action as how to address the alarming reality. “It’s not just a chareidi issue, but most of the residents of the capital don’t want to see buses running on shabbos” Deutsch concluded.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Nebach!!!! Al Tiftach Peh L’soton , but some of these people need a reality check. It wasn’t too long ago when riding an average bus was a scary event and now this is how we show our hacaras hatov- by flaunting chillul shabbos bedavka!! The cracks started with chazir, then gay pride- now this, Oy Rebono Shel Olam help us!!! Your children are so lost!!!!
I’m surprised Meretz isn’t demanding bus service on Yom Kippur. Choteh u’machti es ho-rabim!! Rishoim!
So long as it’s a private business run by these shkotzim, rather than being done in the name of the public, I don’t really see the objection. If they want to show the world what they are, let them. And in fact every person who takes the bus rather than driving is reducing his chilul shabbos, so we should be happy about that!
To No. 2
I would respectfully disagree. Even frei yidden in EY would not insist on buses for yom kippur. I’m not sure why you criticize Meretz for not advocating such an extreme change in the status quo.
NOTE: It’s called Shabbos Shuva as in “Shuva Yisroel.
Remember, it is not Meretz. It is Hashem. We must examine our own Shabbos observance to determine why is Hashem provoking.