Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel addressed the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council regarding Shabbos work permits.

When he entered his current cabinet post, Ariel found there were fifty Shabbos work permits issued and he has worked to reduce that number to seven. He explained he is turning to his colleagues, other ministers, as well as director-generals of the ministries to follow his lead, to minimize to the absolute minimum the number of persons receiving a Shabbos work permit.

He told the rabbonim “I view the council as the highest religious body, hence, I have come to consult with you as how to get other ministries to follow my lead.

At the end of the session, the head of the council, Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita announced they must work to have a permanent representative on the committee which grants the Shabbos work permits.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)