Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef has sent a letter to the head of the Kiryat Arba Municipality, Malachi Levinger, asking him to prevent the planned change in the status quo, opening the municipal pool for mixed swimming.

In his letter, the rav explained many residents have turned to him to intervene, quite alarmed over the change. It is added that from the first day of the establishment of the community until today, the majority of residents are in agreement, that they want to maintain a pool with separate swimming exclusively.

“I turn the honorable head of the municipality to safeguard the kedusha of the city, for this is a serious chilul kedusha of the City of Kiryat Arba, which was established by persons who are Yirei Shomayim who keep mesores Yisrael close to their hearts. For them, this break is a most serious one, lacking modesty, which will impact efforts to maintain the character of the city as is the desire of most residents”.

The rav then details some of the halachic problems with mixed swimming, then once again emphasizing the need to maintain the current arrangement to safeguard the holiness of the city.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)