Despite promises from Ministry of Transportation officials to amend bus schedules on erev Shabbos to accommodate the change back to standard time, dozens of bus routes around Israel will still operating after candle light last week, Shabbos Parshas Vayera.

According to protocol, the last bus setting out on its route must reach its final destination no less than 30 minutes before candle lighting time in that area as per the candle lighting times announced by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

According to many bus companies and local authorities, the ministry did not send memorandums to them instructing them to accommodate standard time realities on erev Shabbos, the daily HaMevaser reports.

HaMevaser adds that last week, the Movement for a Jewish State, an organization using legal means to enhance the Jewish character of the state, turned to Mr. Meir Chen who heads the National Public Transportation Authority with a request to monitor the situation to ensure there will not be major chilul Shabbos resulting from the change from daylight time to standard time. The authority was also in touch with Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz’s office as well as Minister of Economy Naftali Bennett’s office.

Officials of the Movement for a Jewish State informed authorities that their turning a blind eye to widespread chilul Shabbos represents a major violation of the religious status quo.

Transportation Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadia stresses there is no change in the religious status quo, but he does not offer an explanation as to why the bus lines in so many municipalities were running after candle lighting time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)