The violent protest that caught police by surprise on Wednesday night has had an impact. No one expected hundreds of people to take part in the protest against a decision to close the Sanhedria Beis Hachaim at 8 PM. Shas leaders explained that “thousands of mispallalim visit the kever of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L weekly and the decision to close it at night is not appropriate”, the party affiliated Yom L’Yom newspaper reports.
According to reports, the chevra kadisha reacted quickly to the protest and it appears the closure decision is being reversed to accommodate the many mispallalim arriving at the late posek hador’s kever.
It is also being reported that the chevra kadisha is going to permit an architect to begin measuring and surveying to construct of an ohel around the kever. Earlier reports signaled the chevra opposed a family request to build such a structure.
Yom L’Yom quotes Shas leader Aryeh Deri reporting that he approached chevra kadisha officials with the idea, adding he has found a donor for the project as well. Deri feels strongly about permitting access at night for there is a steady flow of mispallalim from residents and visitors from around the world that wish to be mispallel at the tziyun of Maran ZT”L. Deri’s request was originally turned down.
Deri pointed out that even a gesture seeking to install a unit for mispallalim to place lit candles on was rejected by the chevra kadisha, and as a result, visitors have placed candles at the head and foot of the kever, resulting in significant damage to the matzeivah. This request was also rejected.
It is likely that a separate entrance is going to be constructed to permit direct access to the tziyun, facilitating access, enhancing tznius, and minimizing the wear and tear to other areas of the beis hachaim which mispallalim must pass through. It is also being reported that there will be an increase in sanitation manpower to permit addressing the larger volume of trash resulting from the thousands of weekly visitors.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
“and minimizing the wear and tear to other areas of the beis hachaim which mispallalim must pass through”. This statement makes no sense because R Ovadya’s kever is right at the edge of the cemetery, hence mispallalim don’t need to pass through any other areas of the bais hachaim.
I am not sure that the end justified the means, i.e. the nature of the protests. It was not as if the issue was a matter of life or death or a violation of some sacred Torah principle.
This is ridiculous. Just give these chareidim a slap on the wrist and overlook their deplorable behavior. There is no leadership in EY. We need Moshiach very badly.