Construction work on the Tel Aviv light rail system carried on in Bnei Brak during the days of Rosh Hashanah desecrating the Jewish new year in the Charedi city. According to reports in the Israeli media, the work was carried out by foreign workers and Jewish supervisors both above and below ground.

The city of Bnei Brak has decided to revoke the permit allowing the construction of a temporary cement factory on its property due to the desecration of Shabbos in earlier instances, however, on the ground, no changes have been made.

Over the past year, since construction has begun, hundreds of local residents have gone out to protest the work being done desecrating the Shabbos.

Last Shabbos, rabbonim from the Kiryat Herzog neighborhood including HaGaon HaRav Yehuda Aryeh Schwartz, rav of Nachlas Siroka, were out protesting. At about 5:00PM, hundreds of avreichim from other areas of Bnei Brak, including Rav Mordechai Edelstein, rav of the Naot Yosef neighborhood joined in.

Protests also took place on the first day of Rosh Hashanah after Tashlich.

Bnei Brak City Hall issued a statement and said: “Mayor Rabbi Chanoch Zeibert is working through different channels, in conjunction with the legal department of the city, in order to prevent the construction on the light rail from taking place on Shabbos and the holidays.

The overseeing company is wantonly breaking the contractual agreement with the city that specifically states that no work should be done on Shabbos.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)