Betar Illit Mayor Rabbi Meir Rubinstein told HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita that he will do everything in his power to see to it that mikvaos in the city will use electricity produced by a Shabbos generator and not Israel Electric Company power in line with the Gadol Hador’s instructions.
According to a HaMevaser report, Rav Yehuda Deutsch and Rav Moshe Friedman were welcomed by Rav Kanievsky last week, receiving a bracha from him. Also present were city councilmen Rav Yitzchak Ravitz and other askanim.
The Gadol Hador wrote a letter to the mayor, in which he states “I understand the mikvaos in the city operate on non-kosher electricity, reminding him of the position of the Chazon Ish ZT”L on the matter and the benefits that will result in shmiras shabbos l’chumra.
Mayor Rubinstein has already summoned the city’s rav of the mikvaos, Rabbi Meir Siruta for a meeting to advance the project of switching the mikvaos over to a Shabbos generator in line with the instructions from the Gadol Hador. Deputy Mayor Rabbi Yosef Sheetrit and other city officials will also be taking part in the meeting.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Funny, using a hot mikva on Shabbos relies on much more basic leniencies than using “non-kosher” electricity. But I suppose what’s accepted is accepted.
#1: Al pi shitta, using “non-kosher” electricity on Shabbos involves Chillul Shabbos. And that is a far far greater aveira than anything else you might compare it to.
Zalman, using a hot mikva on Shabbos also involves chillul Shabbos. My point is that the logical steps one needs to take to be matir the hot mikva are more than the steps one needs to take to be matir the electricity.
If i recall, the Chazon Ish and Rav SZ Averbach had strong difference of opinion on electricity on shabbos. Therefore BB has many generators on shabbos while Yerushalayim have much less.
The water can be heated before nightfall and stay warm for a while.