The matter of Purim observance in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim is a hot topic as a number of poskim has released piskei halacha. Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita ruled that residents are to observe Purim on 15 Adar, Shushan Purim. This psak is in line with the rulings of gedolim including Maran Rav Elyashiv ZT”L while Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L ruled Ramot residents should observe the 14th.

HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita concurs in his ruling, instructing residents to observe Purim on the 15th together with other Jerusalem residents of the capital.

Jerusalem Chief Sephardi Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita rules like Rav Ovadia, instructing residents to observe Purim on the 14th.

Jerusalem Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Stern Shlita rules that Ramot should observe Purim on the 15th along with the other residents of the capital. This is the position that has been accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council.

In the official announcement the council states “Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Dovid Lau Shlita have ruled together with the Chief Rabbinate Council and Jerusalem Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Stern Shlita that Ramot residents should observe Purim on 15 Adar and not on the 14th of Adar”.

The rabbonim explain that today there is land continuity and the psak creates achdus, permitting all the residents of the capital to observe the day together. It is further explained that the council accepted the Rishon L’Tzion’s view after he explained that today, the conditions set forth by Maran R’ Ovadia have been meet regarding land continuity and therefore, Ramot can observe Purim with other Jerusalem residents.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)