Chareidi councilmen in Jerusalem are up in arms over increasing chilul Shabbos in the capital. On Sunday, 24 Menachem Av, Degel Hatorah representatives sent a letter to the mayor and other city officials citing the growing chilul Shabbos in the city in violation of the long-standing so-called religious status quo in the city.

Agudas Yisrael officials were angered when learning of Degel’s letter, which was sent independent of chassidish faction of Yahadut Hatorah. Agudas Yisrael officials question why Degel feels the need to act alone instead of including it and Shas in a combined chareidi effort, which would be more effective. Clearly the cracks appearing between the Yahadut Hatorah factions in Knesset are also visible in Jerusalem City Hall, as Agudas Yisrael accuses Degel of routinely acting on its own without consulting or cooperating with the other chareidi factions. A statement released accuses Degel of being more concerned with boosting its name than with “Yiddishkheit”.

Shas and Agudas Yisrael sent city officials their own letter, detailing the number of movie theaters and other locations that have joined the chilul Shabbos list, working independent of Degel.

For now, efforts to prevent additional chilul Shabbos in Yerushalayim continue but sadly, even on this matter the chareidi parties seem unable or unwilling to cooperate with one another.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)