When mispallalim arrived at the Kosel on Shabbos morning Parshas Nasso 5774 they were surprised to see goyim working on water faucets near the ezras noshim. One of the workers explained their boss told them to work on Shabbos morning. Lending credibility to his statement was the fact that a security guard was protecting them. The laborer stated the guard was provided by the Kosel Heritage Foundation. The guard had harsh words for mispallalim who were critical of the fact that the laborers were working on Shabbos.
As late at 10:30 on Shabbos morning the Arab laborers were seen dismantling the faucets in the area.
When asked to comment, Kosel Heritage Foundation officials stated they probed the incident on motzei Shabbos and learned that a sewer was blocked in the area of the ezras noshim and non-Jewish workers decided on their own to clear the problem due to the offensive odor and complaints from a number of women. The statement added “The Kosel Foundation will learn from this incident and in the future it will only operate in line with piskei Halacha from Kosel Rav Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Of course the guard had harsh words for the Mispalilim. His view was that they were doing the Mispalalim a favour. And if they did decide on their own to repair then as long as the faucets were working before there is absolutely no problem (even if they weren’t working, the Kosel is a real tircha d’zibura).
Either way, when dealing with the average ka’noi (bor am ha’aretz) its best to just ask the Rabbi.
Chochom-ibber: “when dealing with the average ka’noi (bor am ha’aretz)”
Look who is calling the kettle black.
Doesnt seem to pan-out.
Im trying to think of how working on faucets has anything to do with a backed up sewer, and I got nothing. Its also highly unlikely, any non-jewish workers on their own decided to work on their day off.
Who the heck is the Kotel Heritage Fund??? Sound like a bunch of cover-up artists to me.
No frum jew asks for no help, doesnt want no favours, are not going to bow to insensitive and offensive situations chochem. Not their bad not their good, let them all fish off and leave us alnoe already. Perhaps you are not up on who things ar done her ein ISrael, with the attitude towards haredim. OF coarse we protest, I dont think we protest near enough. The workers should have been driven off. Perhaps more to the point, beaten until telling who told them to do the work, and then whoever it is, dealt with.